The Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala has ordered the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to compensate Rebecca Mayanja Nalule with Shs 35 million for injuries she sustained after falling into an uncovered manhole along Jinja Road in 2018.
Justice Musa Ssekaana ruled that KCCA must also pay 15% annual interest on the compensation amount until it is fully settled, in addition to covering all legal costs.
The court found KCCA guilty of negligence in maintaining public infrastructure, which led to the incident near the Rugby Grounds, opposite Shoprite.
Nalule filed a lawsuit in 2020, claiming that KCCA had failed to cover the manhole or warn pedestrians about the hazard, despite the authority’s responsibility to ensure public safety.
In his argument, Nalule’s lawyer, Nicholas Ssenkumbi, emphasized that KCCA had breached its obligations under the Kampala Capital City Act, which mandates the authority to maintain roads, drainage systems, and public lighting. He argued that KCCA’s negligence directly endangered pedestrians, resulting in life-changing injuries for Nalule.
In its defense, KCCA denied the presence of an uncovered manhole at the time of the incident, insisting that all manholes in the area were properly secured. The authority also contended that Nalule did not report the accident immediately and lacked credible evidence to support her claims.
However, the court rejected these defenses, holding KCCA accountable. Justice Ssekaana stated, “KCCA had an obligation to ensure the safety of its infrastructure. Their failure to cover the manhole or provide adequate warnings to the public constitutes negligence.”
While the judgment acknowledged inconsistencies in Nalule’s medical evidence—particularly that she initially sought treatment at a pharmacy instead of a hospital—the court concluded that the evidence was sufficient to establish that her injuries were caused by the fall.
