The family of 16-year-old jimmy Ogwal and a former street child and resident of Corner Aloi in Alebtong district is demanding compensation of Shillings 50million compensation from Al-Nuiami Group and Abubaker Construction Company for his death.
Ogwal died on Saturday after slipping into a sewage line along Olwol Road in Lira City. Nuiami Group and Abubaker construction Ltd are currently undertaking the construction of the sewage line under the USMID project.
The bereaved family accuses the company of being responsible for the death of their son. Atek-Adyang- Okwer- Kic, the deceased’s clan wants the contractor to meet the burial expenses and pay blood compensation of Shillings 50 million.
Blood compensation is a traditional practice in the Lango culture involving the family of the victim and those suspected to have caused the death. It requires the payment of seven head of cattle and cash compensation to the bereaved family as the only way to foster reconciliation between the two parties.
Caesar Omac, the Atek Adang Okwer-Kick clan head, says that they are demanding seven cows and Shillings 50million shillings to compensate for the death of their son.
Sheila Naturinda, the Communication Officer Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program-USMID, said they are already in talks with the bereaved family to meet the burial expenses, adding that the issue of the compensation will be handled later.
Denis Obote, the deceased’s father explained that his child left home after a misunderstanding with the step mum but was rehabilitated by the Lira Child Restoration Outreach.
