Woman sues KCCA over dangerous manhole

COURT

KAMPALA- A 74-year-old woman has dragged Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to court for negligence after she fell into an open manhole and sustained injuries as well as trauma.

Yesterday, Rebecca Mayanja Nalule filed her suit at the civil division of the High Court seeking sh97m she spent on treatment, transport expenses, lost income from the date of injury, continuous medical checkups, and operations.

 Court documents indicate that on June 9, 2018, Mayanja while traveling along Jinja road fell into a manhole under the management of KCCA.

Mayanja says as a result she sustained serious injuries on her body and internal organs.

She further asserts that when KCCA management learnt of the tragic development they immediately covered the manhole and when her representatives came back the following day to take photos of it they found it covered.

"As a result of the injuries, the plaintiff was taken to hospital where she received treatment and continues to receive the same to date, "reads part of the court documents.

According to the court documents, Mayanja has never recovered, and ever since she has difficulties in walking, persistent back pain, hurting limbs and she was advised by a medical doctor that she requires operation in order for her to get better.

The plaintiff adds that she was operating a restaurant at the time before the accident called "Stomach Clinic" closed as a result of her inability to continue operations due to the injuries sustained as a result of KCCA negligent act of failing to cover the said manhole.

Mayanja avers that she incurred expenses and continues to suffer medical expenses in treating the injuries and has suffered a lot of inconveniences hence she seeks compensatory damages, special and general damages.

The plaintiff states that as a result of falling into an uncovered manhole she injured the back of her right upper arm, elbow, swelling of limb, and both her legs and hands which resulted in numbness in the said parts of her body.

"The Plaintiff avers that as a result of injuries she sustained, she suffered and continues to suffer from economic loss ever since the closure of her restaurant where she was working in order to feed herself and family "reads part of the court documents.