The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ugandans injured while working for companies that performed overseas operations for the United States are being mobilized to access workers’ compensation benefits.
The compensation is provided for under the Defence Base Act of the United States of America, and designed to give medical treatment and compensation to employees of defence contractors injured in the scope and course of employment in US military bases outside the country.
Uganda is one of the largest armed guard or mercenaries’ providers to Middle East countries of Iraq, Dubai, Afghanistan and Somalia among others, where they guard US Embassies, businessmen, Aid workers and many other military installations for companies contracted by the US Department of Defense.
It is estimated that 20,000 Ugandans work as armed guards. But as many of them return home with physical and psychological injuries, they do not access any form of compensation partly because the companies that contract them do not disclose details on workman’s compensation.
Now several law firms based in the United States are calling for the Ugandans who fought in Iraq and many other overseas territories to register with them, saying they may be entitled to compensation and medical benefits. One of such firms is Barnes Law Firm, which so far is working with 20 Ugandans and former armed guards to have them compensated starting from last year.
Barnes has set up an aggressive social media mobilization for Ugandans who were injured while working for companies contracted by the USA over the last two years. To date, 50 Ugandans have registered with them seeking compensation.
On their Barnes Facebook page, several Ugandans posted information about injuries, deaths and trauma they experience while working in Iraq. In early January, about 500 Ugandan private guards battled protestors who had stormed the US Embassy in Baghdad.
In an interview with URN, Brandon Barnes, an Attorney at Barnes Law Group, said the idea of the campaign is to make people aware that they can actually be compensated. He says for one to benefit from the insurance compensation, the person should have a doctor who confirms that one is no longer able to work oversees either physically or psychologically, as a result of the injuries.
He says the team of lawyers will make their way in Uganda this February, to follow up on many of the cases registered during the campaign, and asses the injured Ugandans. Brandon says that the Ugandan complainants do not need to pay any amount of money to them for representation. He faults the companies for hiding vital information from the workers. He adds that although those likely to be compensated should have been cases of 2 years ago, the firm may assess other cases depending on the circumstances.
Without disclosing the details, Brandon says some Ugandans are already being paid.
According to Brandon, the injured Ugandans visit the website of Barnes Law Group, https://barneslawgroup.com/ fill in a form and they personally contact the person.
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Thanks for your publication. Am a working with a cooperative Society for the concerned group about this compensation program. We happened to mobilise all over the country from a central office in Kampala under one Non governmental organisation ,Hollyne Care Uganda.
Several issues and ideas have developed otherwise.
Good afternoon please
Since United States Embassy exposed we the Baghdad Embassy Security Force into the exposure of COVID-19 pandemic
Can we claim for any compensation
Because we have been confirmed POSTIVE
And we are under going quarantine
Can we fill for compensation
I am Musinguzi Samuel baker, I worked in Mosul, Iraq in 2011 and I suffered a lot of injuries on my body and in my life. I was treated only one case and it never been healed upto now, i Used 3m combat earplugs which affected my ears but upto now no medication I have received on that case, my eyes are deem and no help I lost my bones from the head and I am not satisfied with the treatment I received on only that one case.
I really need help
Thanks whoever is behind this program. I was wondering where to begin from. Now that you have come in, me personally and on behalf of fellow injured Ugandans who have ever worked oversees, I need to take this golden opportunity to thank you for such an initive.
What happened to me was, on a certain date, I was deployed on a tower in Fob prosperity. The site leader due to some reasons didn’t respord to my radio call as I was very thirsty since it was a summer serious season. I needed water to quench my thirsty. When I saw he was delaying, I decided to slop down stairs to pick the water since there was some there. For sure it was God’ s plan for me to survive death. What do I mean. If I had not moved down, the rocket launcher which his the tower to ashes, would have smashed me to death. I only came to come into my senses, when I realised I was on drips of water. It was the day I got spsycosocial isues to the extent that I stopped reasoning sensibly compared to the way I was before the scenario. What Triple canopy did, was to put me under house arrest and then forced me to sign a resignation letter according to them, not to ruin the organization reputation and then deported me back home with out any medical attention. I visited Ugandan doctors for counselling at my own pay though I think am now rehabilitated. So if there is any medical compensation, NSSF benefits, I follow a victim of the circumstances. Not only that, but I feel some complications due to the negative connsequences of Baghdad work which I can not mention now on air unless we meet physically. Thanks for your program. And I request for your immediate interventions.
Thanks so much for the publication. I am one of those people who used to work with AAFES (Army and air force exchange services) for three years without being given time for a vacation as it’s stipulated in the contract. Having stayed in that environment for that periodof time without made me start feeling weak a condition that made me apply for an emergency leave but later came to realise that I had got some health problem that can’t allow me pass any medical test in trying to apply for any job out of Uganda.
Nelson Ampurire
Hello thanks to whoever is behind this program personally I was in FOB Falcon Iraq where I had a lot problems in my life that I will never forget at all , my first time to be deployed was in towers day where I was taken by another supervisor from towers to Fox Gate to work there without resting remember I had worked during day and I was forced to work night that very a day. Along the way in the middle of night I got tired and requested my supervisor to rest and have water he refused and become mad,put me on gun point in the processes I raised my voice for help Two US soldiers appeared and took the gun away from him but I thought I was dead I could not have any good sleep, with that brain injury I was given only one night to rest and join day towers again on the following day my best friend Godfrey was deployed in tower three where we used to work together along Jackson road at around 10:00am I was coming from the shower room I hard a very very big sound that got me scared without any warning or alarm going on and some fragments hit which left me with Minor scars as I crawled into the nearby banker, 5minutes later there was a sound of incoming and I was traumatised right in there thinking of another deadly thing to happen two Military helicopters were seen heading to tower three and the news came to me from those who saw me hiding that my friend was hit and died, up to now I don’t know how I found my self in my bed with a bottle of water besides me, partly my whole life was damaged coming to uganda was the only way to get my personal doctor for treatment and counseling both physiological and physical where bills were and are too high .
I worked in Mosul Iraq need help
Am jacob sendiwala. I worked with soc at VBC as a tower guard in 2009 to 2011
I got blast injuries and damaged optical receptors in my eyes plus hearing defect that caused partial deafness to me. After iraq, I used all the little money I had saved for diagnosis and treatment by the ophthalmologists but all in vine because the money they needed was too much and I didn’t have it so I just kept on with my defects update without help. I failed even to resume my profession as a teacher duce to the defects that can all me. So I am helpless since 2011.
I have a wife and children.
I failed even to pay fees .
Just want to talk to the doctor
I need him to work on my file
im also a victim, i sued the company i last worked for but my lawyer acts very unfriendly, imagine he can tell you that the insurance company said that it will pay u say 20,000, if u complain that they should add on something he takes long to give you a feed and if he does so he changes that the insurance wants to pay you 15,000 , ive completely lost trust in him i seek assistance
Hallo am TUMWEBAZE VITOS I worked at us embassy at Baghdad but my eyes got problems and lost one eye .
Am looking for some one who can help me to get justice
Thank you
TUMWEBAZE VITOS
I lost my eyes sight and ear defect.I worked in fob loyality and later camp diamondback / marez
am Daniel Katobo I worked in Iraq in soc company from 2007 in sep, upto 2011.so from then I got broblems to my eyes,ears,I broken my spinal cord and they operated me aunia coz of bodyharmer many probms ,but I need help from your company thank u
I worked in inspection yard in monsul FOB Diamond back /marez.Got eye defects and got hit by a cable and developed injuries that are now leading me to not work anymore .need your assistance whoever is concerned.
TALEMWA GODFREY, I worked with US ARMY in camp TALLIL Iraq where I sustained injuries,my ears can’t hear,my eyes can’t see, I broke my spine code wearing abody hummer searching cars at ECP1 and in need of your help who ever is concerned thank you.
Am called Ssali Godfrey, I got injured in Iraq Basrah consulate.
Hello am Behumbiza Dan I also worked in Iraq in different Fobs I have problems in hearing and even one of my eye was operated and I even have kidney problem so I need that help too thanks for the efforts.
Im also a victim, i worked in Afghanistan with Reed company but my lawyer acts very unfriendly, imagine he can tell you that the insurance company said that it will pay u 10000$, if u complain that they should add on something he takes long to give you a feed back
I need help guys
Am kiwanda geofrey from Uganda I worked in Iraq since 2018-2010’in alasad airbase and camp Taj but I lost my appendix ineed your help
Am tayebwa justus. In 2008:to 2010 I was working in northern Iraq and I got injured and hearing lose from that time haven’t get any help
I was in iraq but I got injuries from there.in camp tallil airbase.i got injuries like spinal cord, eyes and ears, limbs.but I need help thanks
Am by names of Biryomuriwe Ambrose passport number B0811261.i worked in iraq 2010-2011 at camp talili air base and during my service i got i got injured with the following,spinal cord,eyes,ears and limbs but i never got helped abd so far have been getting some treatments from ugandan doctors and i used all the money and now i don’t have any money to help me with my family people and i tried to file my case to ugandan law firms but no juctice came out so far.and even i filled BDA case no juctice came out too so far approximately 5 years no help.kindly i need you law firm to help me and all ugandans who were in desert areas.i will be great ful to meet your response.
Hello am Twikirize Julius I worked with US contracted security company and I got injured from the war zone Iraq the I filed my case of DBA to ugandan law firm but I have never got justice please help me
I’m Atwom Godfrey.
Worked in Iraq FOb alsaad, basarah and camp taji and Afghanistan for 4yrs in fob Ap lightning respectively. Please no justice has been delivered. I registered independently with a lawyer and he said my case has been dismissed.
3M earplugs claims. HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT CASE CLOSED and DISMISSED.THANK YOU.