Publication date: Tuesday, 28th July, 2009
MELLEN Musoke is desperate. Musoke is the widow of Dr Jonah Kule who died of the deadly ebola which hit Bundibugyo in 2007. Since her husband’s death two years ago, she has neither been compensated nor paid her late husband’s benefits as stipulated in the civil service rules.
Kule left five children behind who have now become a burden to the widow, who barely has enough to feed them. This is in spite of the fact that the Minister of State for Primary Health Care, Dr Emmanuel Otaala, promised her that she would receive her late husband’s salary until the family was fully compensated.
According to the 2006 Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation Act, if a worker dies as a result of work-related causes, the dependants are entitled to a 60-months salary from the time the person dies.
Musoke received her husband’s salary for only six months after which it was stopped. Who stopped it and why?
The manager of Stanbic, where she used to draw her husbands’s salary, says his account had been closed and that she cannot operate his account since she is not the account holder.
Even when she opened another account in her own name, she was not able to access her husband’s benefits. Clearly, Musoke needs help. Dr Kule was the first medical doctor from Bundibugyo.
He gave up his career in Kampala and opted to return to Bundibugyo to help his people. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. For that reason alone, his memory deserves respect. Dr Kule’s dependants must not be condemned to destitution as a result of his heroic acts.
This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/14/689451
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