Mufakose man (39) nurses his paralysed mother

IN WHAT COULD be a show of TRUE LOVE and reversal of roles, a 39-year-old man has sent tongues wagging in Mufakose as he nurses his paralysed mother at home, the H-Metro reported.

The widower, Stephen Chamukoma, 39, of House No. 10 Mutamba Drive has been nursing his ailing mother Gogo Elizabeth Mudimba, 58, for sometime after her four daughters in a family of six abandoned her at home despite her condition.

And in a show of true love, Stephen has taken it upon himself to ensure that his mother is well-looked after despite her condition.

He spoonfeeds her, takes her for shower and even changes her pampers when she soils herself - a task perceived a taboo in African culture. One of Stephen's neighbour Mai Chapeta told H-Metro that Elizabeth's daughters should have been taking care of his mother.

"Basa ririkubatwa naStephen rakaoma, truly he is a Christian but akatopara ngozi kare because he is not supposed to watch his naked mother," said Chapeta.

"At one point, Stephen told me that he closes his eyes each time he takes his mother to the shower after I asked him how he was doing it.

"This woman has been sick since 2006 after she got paralysed and I do not believe he is still cleaning her with his eyes closed.

"It is better if they take her to the old people's home," said Mai Chapeta.

When H-Metro visited Elizabeth on Wednesday, Stephen was busy nursing his mother at home alone.

He vowed to continue nursing her saying he would never let her to die.

"As you can see, this is what I do on a daily basis and she is my mother and I can't watch her suffer just like that.

"I took this responsibility after my sisters abandoned her after they got married.

"My church-mates from Jehovha's Witness sometimes come and share a word with her for she is a lone figure.

"I wish I could obtain a television set or radio to ensure that she won't get bored as she is always on wheel-chair.

"My other sister has since been given a notice to leave the house for abandoning our mother.

"On Christmas Day, my brother Never brought us some food and we had a wonderful time together.

"Right now, I need soap because I clean her nappies each time she soils them," said Stephen.

Elizabeth praised her son for his bravery saying she could have died had it not been for his love and care.

"Stephen is doing an amazing job and I pray to God to help him after all he is doing for me since I got paralysed," said Elizabeth.

"It pains me because he is the only child taking care of me after my daughters abandoned me when they got married.

"They have got their families and they come here when they are free but Stephen is here for me on a daily basis," said Elizabeth.

H-Metro managed to track one of Elizabeth's daughters Joyce who lives in the same neighbourhood and she said she does not have the financial muscle to help her.

"Cash is the biggest challenge, we could have been taking her to doctors for exercises and other treatment but we can't.

"I used to help her before I got married and now the burden is now on our brother Stephen's shoulders.

"I even took the issue to our local Member of Parliament for assistance but nothing materialised," said Joyce.

Elizabeth's four daughters in a family of six children deserted their mother earlier before they got married, according to our sources.