Govt joins disabled to sue taxi driver
Aug 07, 2007
The Minister of Labour, Syda Bbumba, has asked the Director of Public Prosecution to take over a case where a disabled law graduate, Fred Mugerwa, is suing a taxi driver and his conductor over barring him from entering the vehicle. They claimed he would inconvenience them.
By Geresom Musamali
The Minister of Labour, Syda Bbumba, has asked the Director of Public Prosecution to take over a case where a disabled law graduate, Fred Mugerwa, is suing a taxi driver and his conductor over barring him from entering the vehicle. They claimed he would inconvenience them.
“We have asked the DPP to take those perpetuators to court. We have opted for both civil and criminal prosecution to minimise any chances of losing the case,†Bbumba said yesterday while opening a planning workshop on assisting landmine victims.
The taxi driver, Hussein Kabuye and his conductor, Dominic Mukiibi, were arested and the taxi impounded.
Mukiibi is said to have slammed the door in Mugerwa’s face as the latter attempted to board the Kampala-bound taxi at Wandegeya stage on July 2.
Mugerwa boarded the next taxi and reported his case at Kampala Central Police Station, where he argued that the suspects had violated his constitutional right to public transport.
He also petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission, saying the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association and the taxi owner, Swizen Sserubiri, deserve punishment and a fine for failing to sensitise the driver and the conductor about the disabled persons’ rights.
“This is not the first time such a thing has happened to me. Enough is enough. I am going to pursue this case and set a precedent that will perhaps help many of my fellow disabled colleagues,†Mugerwa vowed.
The Minister of Labour, Syda Bbumba, has asked the Director of Public Prosecution to take over a case where a disabled law graduate, Fred Mugerwa, is suing a taxi driver and his conductor over barring him from entering the vehicle. They claimed he would inconvenience them.
“We have asked the DPP to take those perpetuators to court. We have opted for both civil and criminal prosecution to minimise any chances of losing the case,†Bbumba said yesterday while opening a planning workshop on assisting landmine victims.
The taxi driver, Hussein Kabuye and his conductor, Dominic Mukiibi, were arested and the taxi impounded.
Mukiibi is said to have slammed the door in Mugerwa’s face as the latter attempted to board the Kampala-bound taxi at Wandegeya stage on July 2.
Mugerwa boarded the next taxi and reported his case at Kampala Central Police Station, where he argued that the suspects had violated his constitutional right to public transport.
He also petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission, saying the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers’ Association and the taxi owner, Swizen Sserubiri, deserve punishment and a fine for failing to sensitise the driver and the conductor about the disabled persons’ rights.
“This is not the first time such a thing has happened to me. Enough is enough. I am going to pursue this case and set a precedent that will perhaps help many of my fellow disabled colleagues,†Mugerwa vowed.