In a new development that is sure going to leave the Makerere University administration’s jaws on the floor, the bereaved family of the late David Ojok has slapped the university with a sensational UGX 1bn compensation claim.
This follows a tragic incident on 12th April at Nkrumah Hall during which Ojok David, a 2011 alumnus of Makerere University was clobbered and stoned to death by a group of Nkrumah Hall residents who had nabbed him on suspicion that he was a thief. Three of the suspects who took part in that incident were last week produced before the Buganda Road Magistrates Court and remanded to Luzira prison until 7th May when their case will come up again for mentioning. The Magistrates Court has no jurisdiction to hear criminal cases that carry a maximum punishment of death. The Nkrumah Hall custodian was also briefly detained over the incident but was later released.
Through his lawyers from the Center for Legal Aid, Mr. Okidi, the father to the deceased contends that the university controls the means of access to Nkrumah Hall where his son was killed and therefore owes a duty of care to visitors and trespassers alike. Mr Okidi’s lawyers aver that the duty is in respect of any risk of suffering injury on the premises by reason of any danger due to the state of the premises or to things done or omitted to be done on them.
“The university knew or ought to have known about the existence of such risk and should have offered ample protection to Mr. Ojok and other visitors or trespassers on its premises. Had the university taken such care as is reasonably expected, Mr. Ojok would not have lost his life.” adds Mr. Okidi. “…Against that backdrop, we are instructed to notify the university that the bereaved family demands UGX 1,000,000,000/= (Uganda Shillings One Billion Only) as compensation for the death of their loved one…”. In the letter, Mr Okidi also demands to attend the University Council’s May 12 2015 meeting in the company of his lawyers so as to justify his monetary claim.
It remains to be seen how the University is going to react to this astromical demand
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