Ibrahim Ahumuza lay motionless on a wooden bed in a barely lit incomplete brick-room. His roving eyeballs are about the only sign that the 25-year-old is alive. His lower limbs are paralysed and urinal and bowel incontinence are bags of shame he has been living with for five months now.
It all goes back to that day, July 26, 2024, at a pump station in Nyamasoga, Hoima District, when he was run over by a grader - a grisly accident that cost him the functions of not only his lower limbs but also bowel and bladder control.
Unable to urinate or use the toilet, Ahumuza now relies on adult diapers and suffers from deteriorating health, with parts of his body rotting.
But the employers he hoped would have helped since he nearly died in the line of duty have abandoned him, he says. Despite multiple appeals, he claims the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has refused to provide adequate medical treatment.
Mr Ahumuza is now seeking help from government agencies and human rights advocates.
At Kinina Village in Kitoba Sub-county, Hoima District, Ahumuza was found lying helplessly, recounting his ordeal. He says he was directing a vehicle at the pump station when a grader struck him from behind.
The company initially took him to City Medicals in Hoima but allegedly failed to pay for treatment, later abandoning him at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
"I was directing a vehicle at Pump Station One when a grader came from behind and knocked me on July 16, 2024," Ahumuza tearfully recounted.
"They took me to the site clinic, then to City Medicals in Hoima Town, but said they didn't have money for treatment. They later dumped me at Hoima Referral Hospital, where I didn't even receive first aid."
Ahumuza's parents petitioned the Hoima Resident District Commissioner (RDC) and labour officer, who compelled EACOP and the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) to transfer him to Nakasero Hospital in Kampala for better management on July 27.
However, he was reportedly abandoned there as well, with no payment for his medical bills.
"Because we couldn't afford the bills, my father brought me home on a motorcycle, still in pain," Ahumuza explained.
"The RDC and labour officer wrote to NEC and EACOP, who referred me to Nakasero for treatment, but while there, a doctor recommended medication worth Shs 600,000. EACOP staff handling the matter replaced it with fake medicine, according to my doctor, and I was later abandoned."
Since July, Ahumuza's family has repeatedly appealed to EACOP for help. On one occasion, they even carried him to the company's offices, only to be turned away.
He says EACOP managers said he would discourage others from working with the company.
Ahumuza also alleges attempts on his life. This, he says, happened when doctors in Kampala wrote prescriptions that he handed over to a representative of EACOP because the Shs600,000 required by a pharmacy was beyond his means.
"The EACOP staff handling this went and changed medical packs and put fake medicine," he says. "This I realised from my doctor."
The Nile Post could not independently verify the claims. But Ahumuza's medical situation is dire and that is no allegation.
"We've tried everything. I've never received proper treatment," he lamented. "I'm paralyzed from the waist down, unable to urinate or use the toilet normally. My body is rotting, and I smell bad. Adult diapers are expensive. Since July, there's been no fair treatment."
Ahumuza's wife, Jackline Kayesu, who takes care of their baby, says life has become unbearable.
"He was our sole breadwinner," Kayesu said. "Now, I have to dig for money to fend for the family while taking care of him. Life is hard. We've gone to many offices, but no help has come. It's so frustrating for us, especially at our young age."
Ahumuza's mother, Florence Isingoma, is pleading with government officials to intervene.
"My son was so hardworking. He was injured on duty, but EACOP and its partners have neglected him," she said.
"Prime Minister Nabbanja, the President, and other officials, please hear our cries. His private parts are rotting, and we don't know if he'll ever have more children. He only has one baby at 25."
Stella Amonyi, EACOP's communications lead, told this reporter to drop the story, warning that it could tarnish the company's image and jeopardise employees' jobs.
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"Kindly leave that story," Amonyi said. "We are gathering facts and will get back to you. If you publish it, I could lose my job, and the company's reputation will suffer."
Hoima Deputy RDC Michael Kyakashari acknowledged the case but said the dispute stemmed from disagreements over payment for treatment.
"The company was willing to treat him, but he wanted cash upfront to cover expenses for his caretakers, which caused the problem," Kyakashari stated.
Ahumuza refuted this claim, saying, "I only asked the company to give me money if they couldn't treat me so I could seek care privately. They refused and told me never to call them again."
Now confined to a two-room house in Kinina Village, Ahumuza appeals to local leaders, ministers, and human rights activists for help.
Doctors at Nakasero Hospital have warned that if treatment is delayed, he risks losing his legs entirely, he says.
His health continues to deteriorate, and his life hangs in the balance.
