Mother of Teen Killed in 2020 Riots Awarded UGX 50 Million Compensation

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A Kampala High Court has ruled that the government must pay UGX 50 million (approximately USD 13,500) in compensation to the mother of a 15-year-old boy who was shot dead by security operatives during the November 2020 riots in Kampala. The boy, Amos Segawa, was a student at Lubiri High School at the time.

The riots erupted in various districts, including Kampala, Mukono, Wakiso, and Masaka, following the arrest of then-presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine. Ms. Hajara Nakitto, the mother of the deceased, filed a petition in court, stating that her son’s killing had a profound impact on her life, causing her to lose her job and suffer from nightmares. She sought UGX 200 million (approximately USD 54,000) in compensation and an additional UGX 5 million (approximately USD 1,350) as punitive damages.

The court ruled in favor of Ms. Nakitto, stating that the shooting and killing of Amos Segawa violated his fundamental right to life as outlined in the Ugandan Constitution. The court noted that during the riots, it was impossible to determine who fired the stray bullet that resulted in the teenager’s death, and the burden of proof could not be placed on the applicant to identify the shooter.

While Ms. Nakitto expressed some dissatisfaction with the awarded compensation, she stated that she would accept the court’s decision. She also urged the government to expedite the process of compensating her, as promised by President Museveni shortly after the shooting.

In his reaction to the court’s decision, Robert Kyagulanyi praised Ms. Nakitto for her perseverance in seeking justice for her son. He noted that the awarded compensation, although limited, acknowledges that the government unlawfully took her son’s life.

The November 2020 riots resulted in several casualties, and President Museveni promised compensation for the victims, but many families are yet to receive the promised funds.

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