Disgust, Dismay at the Rotten Health System and Dysfunctional Institutions

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

As computer engineering genius perishes in typical Uganda’s road murders

The late Fred Kaleebu. Photo by Moses Kaggwa/PNS

On Friday, September 13, 2013 Pearl News Service (PNS) joined hundreds of mourners in Bbaale- Kasanje to bid final farewell to the 26 year old Computer Engineering genius Kaleebu Fred.

The quiet, humble and civil Kaleebu met his tragedy on September 11 as he returned to Kampala from his alma mater Busitema University in Eastern Uganda where, for seven months, he has been diligently passing on the knowledge and skills he acquired to those in his footsteps.

At the funeral, Busitema university representative told mourners that the deceased had left the institution on that fateful day upbeat saying he was returning on Monday to teach. The university had invited head teachers of the surrounding schools to go for computer lessons.

“Kaleebu was a brilliant boy; But very humble and respectful! He had also become a lecturer but could never address without adding the title of Sir because we had been his lecturers.

“When he joined, the department had a lot of challenges but he had immensely contributed to overcoming many of them and everyone was proud of the changes. Only God knows how we are going to move on without him.”

The university representative revealed that the late left for the stage with one of their fellow lecturer who later changed his mind and decided not to proceed to Kampala. And that while at the stage, there came three unregistered vehicles being brought into the country from the port in Mombasa. Kaleebu boarded the Toyota Rav 4 which was in the middle. He urged the University to ensure that the benefits entitled to the late be passed on to the orphan in a timely manner in appreciation of his great deeds.

“From 2007 when we joined Busitema University to October, 2011 when we graduated as the pioneers, we used to travel by these “numberless vehicles.” They charge far less than the public means transport and they are fast.

“These numberless are driven by young men so we would travel in a pleasant environment with youthful conversations,” Kaggwa Moses a classmate and close friend of Kaleebu told PNS.

Kaggwa further revealed that Kaleebu had graduated with a first class degree in computer engineering and was lecturing in the same department at the time of his demise. He added that they would always come across Lorries and tractors in dangerous mechanical conditions overloaded with sugar canes either belonging to Kakira or the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) factories. 

Accounts from different people indicated that as the car Kaleebu was travelling in approached Mabira tropical forest reserve, a black spot, at around 9.00 pm, it rammed into a stationed trailer. The other two occupants died on the spot.

Even with the police present, it took about four hours to get Kaleebu from the wreckage! Sources further said that all along Kaleebu was talking but bleeding profusely. When he was finally got out he was rushed to Kawolo hospital but being the chronically ill equipped hospital to the extent of becoming a medical museum sarcastically in an accident-prone zone, the vital and urgent medical attention required at the moment was lacking necessitating transfer to Mulago the only national referral in the country!

The absurdity of Uganda’s health system was further dramatized as the ambulance lacked lights! It was Kaleebu’s friend who had driven all the way from Kampala, after learning of the accident, who drove ahead of the ambulance with double indicators to enable it head for Mulago!

On Thursday, September 12, 2013 at around 4.30 am Kaleebu Fred, survived with a six-year daughter, was gnawed by death’s inescapable jaws at Mulago savagely terminating his bright future and great expectations.

It is not that Kaleebu Fred was the first or the last victim of a corrupt-to-the-marrow, selfish, insensitive and destructive regime. In fact year in, year out police churns out records of the systematic murder on Uganda’s roads. All they have done, and continue to do, is turn into extortionists in the name of returning sanity on the potatoes garden-like roads.

But we shall not tire asking as for how long we are to continue senselessly and insensitively losing our dear ones, our cream simply because some demagogue’s concern is clinging onto power regardless of the consequences! The earlier this madness is brought to an end the better and safer for us all.

Rest In Peace Kaleebu Fred!