HOVITA is a Legally registered Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to prevent road deaths, injuries and caring for people bereaved and injured in road crashes. It is also a member of International Organizations working to improve post-crash response. HOVITA works with relevant stakeholders to advocate for road crash survivors’ rights, bridge the gap between Insurance, Police, Hospitals, Judiciary, Policy makers and other victims support Organizations and carryout capacity building in transport and road safety related activities.

HILDA’S TESTIMONY AS A ROAD CRASH VICTIM.

My name is Hilda, On 3rd October 2019 I set out for a business trip to deliver goods from Kampala (capital of Uganda) to Mbarara in the western part of Uganda. I was travelling in a Goods truck with the driver and the turn boy. The journey started at about 10:00pm at night and around 5am as we approached Kyazzanga, we got involved in a Head-on collision with a passenger bus and a truck, the Passenger bus was on very high speed and as it tried to overtake the truck, the driver had no seat belt on, he sustained several injuries. Unfortunately, I was badly crashed by the truck and lost my right limb. The boda-boda riders helped us reach out to the neared police post and later rushed to Masaka Hospital emergency unit.
I was devastated being informed I was to lose my right limb, I had head injuries and several facial injuries and my left limb especially the fingers were numb. I spent 1 day at the hospital and was referred to Kampala for further management.

I was transferred to Mulago Hospital in Kampala in an ambulance that I personally fuelled. I spent a day and I was further referred to Kiruddu Hospital where I stayed for 3 months hospitalized at no cost. During the 3 month hospitalization, I had an operation on the thigh to get a piece to add to the amputated limb.
While at Kiruddu Hospital I was introduced to HOVITA (an organization dedicated to rehabilitate road crash victims), I got insight on road crash victims rights, Motor Third Party Compensation for the road crash victims. I must confess HOVITA was there when I needed a shoulder to lean on, I was given psychosocial support, HOVITA traced the insurance company to compensate me, secured a lawyer to prepare for a law suit, supported me to get an artificial limb through the Uganda Insurers Association as a medical donation through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). I received one million Uganda shillings as an insurance compensation.

I am a single mother, now living in Senge Kayunga with my relatives and trying to survive with my 4 children
My caution goes to all drivers and road users to be careful on the road not to over speed.