Mzee Timmy Yukwa, Makerere’s destitute

Mar 25, 2002

FOR several years now, he has been living in a lonely, squalid structure, better fit for rural dogs or goats. No job. No money and no comfort; just a miserable life.

By Dennis OcwichFOR several years now, he has been living in a lonely, squalid structure, better fit for rural dogs or goats. No job. No money and no comfort; just a miserable life.“Oh brother, what shall I do? I am in problems, too much,” laments 65-year-old Timmy Aluvini Yukwa, in modest English.Everyone who is familiar with the Faculty of Technology at Makerere University knows about this old chap. He is the owner of the unsightly shack made of wood, buveera (plastic bags) and broken asbestos roofing just near the faculty. It is hard to believe that such a structure actually exists inside the beautiful campus.“I more or less sleep under a tree. When it rains, the floor is flooded with water,” he narrates, adding: “The bedding and everything are always soaked and I can not sleep.”Here is an elderly guy who worked at Makerere for 10 years. He was retired officially on January 20, 1993 due to old age. But to date, he has adamantly refused to quit the campus, claiming the sh103,300 given to him as terminal benefit was far below what he should have got. So he is demanding not less than sh1m.“The above man was a worker of Makerere University in the security department. During his course of employment, he was assigned to work in the School of Education,” acknowledges a ‘To whom it may concern’ letter signed by J.C. Ssekamwa, Dean of the school of Education.Ssekamwa comments: “He was quite hard-working, responsible and respectful.”The old man still has the appointment letter indicating that he was recruited officially by the University on December 7, 1982. By the time of his retirement in 1993, he was earning a salary of sh69,960 per month.Before joining MUK, he worked with the then Uganda Transport Company (UTC) from 1976 to 1981 as a mechanic. He says he is an old boy (OB) of Kichwamba Technical School (1958-61) where he got a certificate in apprenticeship. Previously, he had completed Junior Two at Madera Junior School in Soroti.Yukwa, who separated from his wife and children long time ago, hails from Baya village, Akinno parish in Madi Okolo, Arua District. He now stays alone.“All these years I have been begging the University to pay me (additional packages), but they cannot listen. Which is why I have now taken the matter to the higher authorities,” claims Yukwa.He is a very organised record keeper. According to different files he showed this writer, he has already petitioned the offices of Legal Aid Project, Inspectorate of Government (IGG), the courts of law and the President’s office. He wants their help to ‘recover’ the payment.Sometime back, an IGG official visited his home and advised the University authorities to give him a better house of residence.“But the University said there is no house,” he explains.Clutching his cheeks with both hands, he adds, “I even met Mzee (Benjamin) Odoki (chief justice) and told him the university has done bad to me, and he promised to help me.”Three years ago, he walked up to beg President Museveni’s office over the matter.Then, on behalf of the Principal Private Secretary to the President, Mike Chibita wrote a letter on April 13, 1999 to the University Secretary, asking the MUK authorities to settle the man’s complaints.“Could you please attend to the old man in line with the IGG’s recommendation,” the correspondence read in part.The State House letter was in response to a March 31, 1998 memo signed by deputy Inspector of Government, D.C. Psomgen, which advised the university to take the appropriate steps over the man’s needs.Earlier, another letter of June 26, 1995 by Secretary to the IGG, Damian Kato, had also reminded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Ssebuwufu over the issue.Ssebuwufu could not be reached for comment. But a source within the administration contended: “What was given to the old man is what was due for him. I do not think the university will give him any more packages.”So, what is the way forward for Yukwa?“It’s a pity,” he mumbles, spreading his hands in the air. “I did a good job for the university, why can’t they help me,” pleads the greying old man with a depreciating dental formula.What now worries him most is how to get food and money for daily up-keep.Though he is frail, the Mzee has to rove around town for any casual work to earn a few coins.“The other day I was looking for work at Kasubi and a dog bit me,” he narrates, showing the wound on his right index finger. For now, the penniless Yukwa’s only hope is on the Legal Aid Project which is standing by his side to ensure that justice is done.ends

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