A woman who recently threatened to throw herself into traffic after her home was demolished has been given a fresh start after a businessman donated land to her and pledged to construct a three-bedroom house for her family.
Nuliat Nakanaabi, whose emotional ordeal drew widespread public attention, received a 50-by-100-foot plot of land in Jandira Kyasa Village, Kayabwe Town Council, Mpigi District, from businessman Deus Ssali, proprietor of Bassali Property Consultants.
Nakanaabi came into the spotlight after her house was demolished during an operation by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) targeting structures built within a wetland buffer zone in Kawaala.
The demolition left her homeless and desperate, prompting her to contemplate taking her own life together with her seven-year-old son. However, her son intervened and stopped her from carrying out the act.
Moved by the family's situation, Ssali decided to come to their aid.
“I could not ignore the pain this woman was going through,” Ssali said during the handover ceremony. “I know how painful it is to lose a home. Although I had never met her before, I felt compelled to help.”
Nakanaabi visited the site where Ssali presented her with two plots of land and allowed her to choose one.
Overcome with emotion upon seeing the property, she knelt down, sang songs of praise and thanked God for what she described as a miracle.
“I had lost hope and did not know where my children and I would live,” Nakanaabi said. “Today, God has remembered me through Mr. Ssali. I thank all the journalists for telling my story because without them, nobody would have known my suffering.”
In addition to donating the land, Ssali announced that he would personally finance the construction of a three-bedroom house on the plot.
He also rewarded Nakanaabi’s son with a bicycle in recognition of his actions in preventing his mother from stepping into traffic during her darkest moment.
“The boy saved his mother’s life. He deserves appreciation and encouragement,” Ssali said.
Following the handover, the parties proceeded to the office of local council leaders in Jandira Kyasa, where LC I Chairperson Harbet Kakomo and Vice Chairperson Mayanja Muhammad Musa Salongo witnessed the signing of a formal agreement transferring ownership of the land to Nakanaabi.
The agreement was signed and officially handed over amid celebrations by residents and supporters who had accompanied the family.
Ssali used the occasion to encourage fellow wealthy Ugandans to support vulnerable members of society whenever possible.
“We should not wait until people lose hope completely. If God has blessed you, use your blessings to uplift others,” he said.
Nakanaabi’s story is one of several that emerged from the recent Kawaala demolitions, which displaced numerous families following enforcement operations in protected wetland areas.
Several well-wishers, including Robinah Nabbanja, have since offered support to affected residents.
For Nakanaabi and her children, the donation represents the beginning of a new chapter marked by stability, security and renewed hope after a period of profound hardship.