I was abandoned by police, says boy who lost arm to teargas canister
In pain. Seventeen-year-old Musafalu Kamakya rests on his hospital bed at Mulago hospital on October 22, 2017. Kamakya lost his arm after a tear gas canister exploded in his left hand while at home in Makindye, a Kampala suburb on October 22. In the background is his mother Safiina Nasaka. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
What you need to know:
- When asked about what the police is doing about the matter, the deputy police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, Mr Luke Owoyesigire said the files are ready and have been taken to the bosses for review, and he could not give a conclusive comment.
- Mr Stanely Mweba Sagonyi LCI chairman of the area said the police is to blame for this careless act.
KAMPALA. Musafalu Makakya, the 17-year-old who lost his arm when a teargas can he was holding exploded, says the police has not extended any kind of help as earlier promised.
Visiting his home in Massajja, Makakya complained about the excruciating pain he is going through and yet his parents do not have enough resources to pay the hospital.
"I was discharged on Tuesday. Police had earlier on come and taken my pictures. They promised to help in making sure I get treatment, according to the news. But they have not. I wonder what my future will be like,” Makakya said.
When asked about what the police is doing about the matter, the deputy police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, Mr Luke Owoyesigire said the files are ready and have been taken to the bosses for review, and he could not give a conclusive comment.
"I can’t comment right now, the files are before my bosses,” he said.
Earlier on, police had said they would investigate the case before coming up with any conclusions.
The boy who says he hoped to become a professional footballer is uncertain of being able to play the sport. He says the money he earned playing football was the biggest contribution to money paid for his school fees and the help he has been offering at home during the holidays.
On his visit to the home, Makindye West MP Mr Allan Ssewanyana gave the boy's family Shs1m and promised to take him to the floor of Parliament.
" I will myself drive the boy to the floor of Parliament and tell the speaker what is happening. I think by this they will understand how brutal the police is and how it uses unskilled people to disperse gatherings,” Mr Ssewanyana said.
Mr Stanely Mweba Sagonyi LCI chairman of the area said the police is to blame for this careless act.
"We picked these teargas canisters all over the place. They went throwing them and others didn't explode. They did not take the initiative to find out. Many were picked but it's because we called them to take them. This boy is young and he didn't know anything, so police need to be professional," Mr Mweba said.
My Owoyesigire said the Police will pass an official communication on Friday about their findings.
