But rather a sex object, a cola to quench sexual thirst of sex-hungry men who have power and control in the refugee settlements. "I went from the best time of my life to the worst, in one second," he said. If you have a story idea or tip for the FOX 13 Investigative unit, please share it with us below: Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Olinger Hampden Mortuary, Cremation & Cemetery, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. First published on November 12, 2020 / 2:34 PM. Other reasons for that sum is who Nakajjigo was and what she. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. Please enter valid email address to continue. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Wilson Jaga, head of communications for the Office of Ugandas Ambassador for Women and Girls, advocated for her return in a statement obtained by the outlet, writing: We have also petitioned the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda requesting that H. E. Esther Nakajjigos short lived but very instrumental life be celebrated and Essie accorded a State Funeral as a symbol of recognition of small interventions made by young people to make their country a great nation. During the trials opening statements in December, Nakajjigo was described as a pearl beyond price with limitless potential, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. She really loved the Denver vibe and so do I. Ludovic Michaud and his new wife . I felt completely meaningless after losing Nakajjigo, he said. "The National Park Service has, in fact, known for decades that an unsecured metal pipe gate creates an undetectable hazard and dangerous condition," the claim states. "I turned my head and saw what I wish I didn't see.". No services are scheduled at this time. DENVER (CBS4) - The family of a woman killed while visiting Arches National Park is hoping they can change the dangerous conditions that lead to her death and continue the philanthropy she. The same year, Nakajjigo was named Uganda's ambassador for women and girls. Add a Memory / CBS/AP. I didnt know who she was at first, the 26-year-old expressed to NBC News. At age 17, she used her college tuition money to start a nonprofit community health center, which provided free reproductive health services to young women and girls. The same year, Nakajjigo was. Nakajjigo worked on fundraising to open a hospital in an underserved part of Kampala, Uganda's capital, became a philanthropic celebrity and immigrated to the United States for a fellowship at the Boulder, Colorado-based Watson Institute for emerging leaders. 'Shadow pandemic': Women, girls bear unequal share of Covid-19 burden, U.N. official warns, National parks begin to reopen across the country. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Just as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the U.S., Michaud, a video streaming technology solution architect who is originally from France, and Nakajjigo decided they wanted to marry. "For want of an $8 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good," the claim continues. Please enter valid email address to continue. What it means to be a woman in the world's largest refugee settlement..it means you don't own anything not even your body. The ruling was. She rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare, and had successfully raised funds to build health care facilities in her hometown. Heading out the door? Instead of planning their future together, Michaud is now processing the trauma and grief of Nakajjigos gruesome death and hoping the lawsuit his attorney plans to file will save other families from experiencing what he did. Liability, if any, would have to be based on proof of willful wanton misconduct, sometimes referred to as gross negligence.. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. The suit does not specify the amount the plaintiffs are seeking, though it accuses park staff of negligence. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Michaud, from France, took a job at a start-up. As the couple was leaving the park, gusts of wind swung the gate around rapidly, enough to slice through the passenger side door of the couple's car, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat feet away in the driver's seat. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigos mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. The United States will pay family members of Esther Nakajjigo, a Ugandan human rights activist killed in an accident at Arches National Park more than $10 million in damages, a federal judge ruled . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Esther Nakajjigo (credit: Ludovic Michaud). First published on December 6, 2022 / 9:23 AM. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. Denver7 reached out to he National Park Service to ask about the accident. Ludovic said he knows the suit won't bring his beloved wife back, but he wants to make sure the same type of tragic accident doesn't happen to anyone else. CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT CANDLES HAVE BEEN LIT, We are reviewing your submission. The suit was filed last week in federal court in Denver by the widower and parents of Nakajjigo. Michaud and Nakajjigo met over a dating app while they both had recently arrived in the Denver area. Everything reminds Michaud of Nakajjigo. Of the accidents aftermath, Michaud told FOX 13: I saw the worst thing I hope I will ever see.. In other words, he added, theres no liability for ordinary negligence. Newlyweds Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo and Ludovic Michaud visited the park in mid June. Im still struggling with that, Michaud said. SALT LAKE CITY A judge awarded $10.2 million to the family and spouse of Esther "Essie" Nakajjigo, who was killed by an unsecured gate at Arches National Park in 2020.. Nakajjigo, 25, a women's rights activist from Uganda, was killed when driving in Arches National Park with Ludovic "Ludo" Michaud during a camping trip on June 13, 2020. She described Nakajjigo as a prominent women's rights activist who rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare. This is not the first time a tragedy like this has happened. Esther Nakajjigo was exiting the park June 13 when the sharp end of a freely swinging gate pierced her car, killing Nakajjigo and narrowly missing her husband. "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. SALT LAKE CITY The family of human rights activist Esther Nakajjigo, who was decapitated in an accident in Arches National Park, has sued the National Park Service. Esther Nakajjigo, a 25-year-old Ugandan human rights activist, was killed in a horrific accident at Arches National Park on June 13, 2020. Nakajjigos family will have to show her death was caused by more than negligence, said James C. Kozlowski, an associate professor of recreation management at George Mason University who studies legal issues in the outdoor industry. Randy Rost was injured when the camper pickup truck in which he was riding was impaled on a piece of gate in the Stanislaus National Forest, California, according to a court document. On June 13, she was needlessly decapitated by a metal gate that swung into the couples car as they were exiting the Arches parking lot on their way to go get ice cream, according to a wrongful death administrative claim exclusively obtained by NBC News. Sign up for service and obituary updates. At this time, I do not have more information to share.". Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgment, saying it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. One time it was the delivery of her Social Security card; another time, an update on her immigration status. Show your support Send Flowers Send flowers or a sympathy gift to a service or family. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Nakajjigo was a performer who used her celebrity to improve the status of women and girls in Uganda. In his judgement, Jenkins said the government had provided a more reasonable projection of Nakajjigo's earnings potential. Jenkins awarded Michaud $9.5 million; Nakajjigo's mother, Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father, John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000. One, Saving Innocence, depicted teenage girls from urban areas helping teen moms in rural communities go back to school. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The family of Esther Nakajjigo was awarded over $10 million from the U.S. government in a wrongful death case stemming from a tragic accident in 2020. I found her really interesting. The family Essie Nakajjigo, an activist who died in Arches National Park in 2020, is preparing to head to trial for a wrongful death lawsuit. The trial over a wrong death lawsuit of a Ugandan activist has begun. "Emergency response personnel from the National Park Service, Grand County Sheriffs Office, Grand County EMS, Moab City Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol and Moab Valley Fire Department responded to the scene to provide assistance. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Nakajjigo family. Michaud and Nakajjigo had been married for just under three months when they decided to go see the Arches. She founded the Princess Diana Health Center, Moab Sun News continued. Recreation areas had recently opened after pandemic-era closures and, on the edge of Arches, a metal gate normally secured with a lock was left untethered. On Monday, a federal judge in Utah . Esther Nakajjigo is a former Uganda activist who was decapitated this summer at the Utah Arches National Park. At just 17, using her college tuition money, she created a nonprofit community health center. She also said it should have been installed to swing inwards for incoming traffic, not outwards. Here's how. Nakajjigo, who was 25, lived with her husband in Denver, where she moved to attend a leadership course on a full scholarship. It's known for a series of sculpture-like fins and arches made of an orange sandstone that wind and water have eroded for centuries. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. In court, Michaud described his relationship with Nakajjigo as the best time of his life., It feels lonely, and thats hard. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! The same year, Nakajjigo was named Ugandas ambassador for women and girls. Powered by, according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News, Famous Rappers Brother Dies From Apparent Suicide. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Nakajjigo was a celebrated human rights activist in Uganda, her home country, Moab Sun News continued. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. The family of a woman killed while visiting Arches National Park is hoping they can change the dangerous conditions that lead to her death and continue the philanthropy she inspired around the globe. Esther was born April 16, 1995. Michaud, who hails from France, told the station during his first interview since his wifes death that he just saw her as a smart person who loved to laugh.. In their legal complaint, Michaud and Nakajjigos parents said the National Park Service was negligent for not maintaining the gate. Opening statements previewed how the trial will hinge less on varying accounts of the accident and instead focus on Nakajiigo's biography and earning potential, which is used to calculate a portion of the damages. "She was the woman I was trying to spend my life with," said the Parisian who'd moved to the U.S. "Everything was perfect.". She rose from poverty to become the host of a solutions-oriented reality television series in Uganda focused on empowering women on issues such as education and healthcare, and had successfully raised funds to build health care facilities in her hometown. As the couple was leaving the park, gusts of wind swung the gate around rapidly, enough to slice through the passenger side door of the couples car, decapitating Nakajjigo as her husband sat feet away in the drivers seat. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a women's rights champion in Uganda. What happens to First Republic Bank's stock and deposits now? Attorneys representing Michaud and Nakajjigos parents asked for $140 million in damages, while the government said an appropriate award would be roughly $3.5 million. The couple, who lived together in Denver, Colorado, were exiting the park on June 13 to get ice cream when a metal gate swung loose and pierced their car, the newspaper continued. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, Utah - Trial began Monday, Dec. 5 for the death of Ugandan women's activist Esther Nakajjigo, who died after a gate at Arches National Park swung open and decapitated her.The family is in federal court with a $140million-dollar wrongful lawsuit and personal claim lawsuit against the National Park Service.The U.S. already admitted responsibility for the wrongful death . "The show saw an audience of 6.3 million each week, and Nakajjigo was named Uganda's 'Young Personality of the Year,'" the Denver Post reported. The amount was far less than the $140 million Nakajjigos family originally sought. Twitter By his verdict, Judge Bruce Jenkins has shown the world how the American justice system works to hold its own government accountable and greatly values all lives, including that of Esther Nakajjigo, a remarkable young woman from Uganda, Randi McGinn, the familys attorney said in a statement. She said entrance gates should be locked into place whether they are open or closed. A video tribute to his wife showed her talking about her name, in an earlier recording. Michaud says he wants to keep her legacy going, but he also wants the gates at National Parks and forests across the U.S. to be safe for visitors. She earned numerous global awards and traveled to the U.S. to further her education, the newspaper reported. "I don't want anyone or any other family to go through what we've been through," Michaud told CBS affiliate KUTV. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The young activist participated in programs at Drexel University in Philadelphia as a Mandela Washington Fellow and at the Watson Institute in Boulder, Colorado as a Luff Peace Fellow, Moab Sun News said. But on June 13, she and her husband needed a break from quarantine and headed toward Arches National Park in Utah. I didnt know who she was at first, Michaud, 26, told NBC News in his first interview since Nakajjigos death. ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, UTAH: More than 2 years after a woman was killed in a Utah national park, her husband and her family are suing the US government for $140 million in damages. Her passions included lowering teen pregnancy, as well as creating two reality television shows that empowered women, the outlet reported. Nakajjigo was not sure where she wanted to work whether it was in the U.S., back in Uganda or elsewhere but Michaud was willing to follow her wherever she could continue to make the most impact. She was best known for a reality show in Uganda that reached millions of viewers. Esther Nakajjigo and her husband were visiting the regions national parks months after their wedding. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Shed come to Colorado to learn how to bolster her business acumen at the Watson Institute in Boulder. Gate accidents similar to Nakajjigos have happened across the country, according to NBC News. As they entered the park on June 13, high winds blew the park entrance gate, a swinging pole, back across the highway. The family of Esther Nakajjigo accused the National Park Service of negligence for not properly securing the metal gate that killed her. We are grateful for your monthly or one-off donations To Samrack Media: Cash App No: 781-888-8770 $SAMRACK001, Esther Nakajjigo Of Denver Decapitated By Gate :Family Files $270M Wrongful Death Claim Against Arches National Park [VIDEO], Book Launch & Signing Event: Author Min Robert Burale:The Three Hearts of a Man April 23 2023 Time 3PM, Transition/death of Rosemary Njeri Muiruri (WaNjeri) of Brockton MA, which occurred on April 19th 2023, Memorial Service Planned for the late Florence Wanja Kangethe on Thursday 20th, from 4 pm to 9 pm, at CCF Lowell 105 Princeton Blvd Lowell, Ole Kanchory: Raila Odinga Won The Presidency But Gave It Away, Transition/ Death announcement of Ruth Opuka ( Mother to Pastor Dorcas Wambua and Mother in law to Bishop Joshua Wambua of Rapture Harvest Mission Church), Inside the battle for control of Michukis multibillion empire, Transition/Death Announcement of Florence Wanja Kangethe of Haverhill Massachusetts, It all started with a sip of Muratina: How drug, alcohol addiction robbed me 30 years of my life, Michael Jordan Sneakers Fetch Auction Record Sh295m, Bishop on the Run After Burning a Human Skull During Easter Prayers, New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency, A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya, Businessman Awarded Sh126 Million for Land Forcefully Taken to Build SGR, Hotel Rwanda hero and government critic arrives in US. Mail that Nakajjigo has continued to receive after her death has been a stark reminder of the life they should still be enjoying together. What awaited them there was as awful as it was unthinkable. Nakajjigo, who went by Essie, was a womens rights champion in Uganda. There is a lot of small things I miss.. The woman I loved and I saw her for just her.. It feels lonely, and thats hard. The couple was leaving a park parking lot to get ice cream when a metal traffic control gate swung into the road, piercing the passenger side of the couples rental car and severing Nakajjigos head. I found her really interesting. Nelson, the government's attorney, said an appropriate award would be $3.5 million, far less than the $140 million being pursued. He said he didn't deny Nakajjigo was an extraordinary person, but argued it was difficult to speculate what kind of work she would have gone on to do. He noted she had recently worked as a host at a restaurant around the time of her death and didn't have a Bachelor's degree. In 2020, Ludovic Michaud was driving with his 25-year-old wife Esther Nakajjigo out of Utah's Arches National Park to get ice cream on June 13 when a metal gate swung into the car and cut her head . Though the amount was substantially less than pursued, attorneys representing the family of Esther Nakajjigo celebrated the judgement, saying it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history. But when she met Michaud in June 2019 in Aurora, Colorado, through a dating app, he just saw her as a smart person who loved to laugh. Attorneys representing the U.S. commended her work, yet noted her most recent job was working at a restaurant making $15 per hour. "We don't know with any level of certainty what her plans were," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nelson said. Ludovic's attorney, Deborah Chang, told Denver7 the entrance gate should have been locked open, and not allowed to swing freely. As recreation areas in eastern Utah reopened that summer, Michaud was excited to take his new wife to Arches National Park, and the two drove there in June. Nakajjigo, who was 25 at the time, was "needlessly decapitated," according to a wrongful death administrative claim obtained by NBC News. They had a courthouse ceremony in March, with plans to throw a big wedding in Uganda once it was safe to travel again. Michaud's wife, Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was a celebrated human rights activist in her home country of Uganda. View of the Delicate Arch at sunset in the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah on April 21, 2018. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, was driving around the stunning Arches National Park in Utah, US, in 2020 along with her husband Ludovic Michaud when the unthinkable happened. Nakajjigo married Denver man Ludovic Michaud in March 2020. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. Esther Nakajjigo, 25, died on a windy summer day in 2020 when a piece of a metal gate from Utah's Arches National Park broke through the passenger door and decapitated her - and now her husband.