Samuel Opio, a teacher at Amuria High School, has been ordered by the court to pay Shs15 million in compensation to his former student, Abraham Obadia, whom he assaulted in 2022.
Following the incident, Obadia suffered a spinal cord injury and endured several months of paralysis. At the time, he was in his fifth year of secondary school and has been unable to continue his education since then.
During a court session on Wednesday, both parties were encouraged to negotiate a settlement, as Obadia has shown some signs of recovery. However, he still faces challenges with speech due to his injuries.
The court approved the settlement following discussions led by Grade One Magistrate Isaac Nakaoko.
Obadia’s mother, Grace Anabo, expressed gratitude for the compensation but noted that the amount does not adequately cover the family’s significant losses since the incident. She disclosed that they had to sell land and other belongings to finance her son’s treatment after the school declined to provide support in the initial year.
Under the terms of the agreement, both the teacher and the school must pay the compensation in two installments: the first on December 2, 2024, and the second by March 2, 2025.
Additionally, the court mandated that both the teacher and the school continue to pay for Obadia’s medical expenses until he fully recovers.
