The family of a Ugandan human rights activist will receive more than $10 million from the U.S. government after their loved one died in an accident at the Utah National Park in 2020. The family of Esther “Essie” Nakajjigo welcomed the settlement despite it being much lower than the original $270 million they sought.

Nakajjigo, 25, who is survived by her husband Ludovic “Ludo” Michaud, 26, and her parents, was driving through the park with her husband on June 13th, 2020. An unsecured metal gate at Arches National Park struck the vehicle the pair was traveling in after a strong wind launched the gate, causing it to slice through the side of the car door, decapitating Nakajjigo. Her husband narrowly missed being struck.

The family’s lawsuit accused the federal government of having a history of unsecured, unlocked gates throughout the park, citing that at least three other individuals had died because of similar accidents in the last 32 years.

An administrative claim filed along with her wrongful death lawsuit described, "For want of an $8.00 basic padlock, our world lost an extraordinary warrior for good; a young woman influencer who was destined to become our society’s future Princess Diana, Philanthropist Melinda Gates or Oprah Winfrey."

Nakajiigo grew to be a prominent activist in her home country of Uganda. There she became a host of a reality TV series that was established to empower women on a variety of issues including healthcare and education. Nakajjigo’s efforts enabled her to initiate fundraising efforts that later resulted in healthcare facilities being built in her hometown. Nakajjigo later moved to Denver, Colorado, where she would live with her husband.

When she was only 17, Nakajjigo gained recognition from the U.N. for her philanthropic efforts. The lawsuit highlights that as a teen, she donated her college tuition to help establish a free women's health clinic in her community. The lawsuit explained, "This act of selflessness went viral throughout Uganda, and she was featured in numerous magazines and news publications. The United Nations Population Fund awarded her a Woman Achiever Award."

Despite the $270 million wrongful death demand, Judge Bruce Jenkins settled on a “more reasonable projection” of what Nakajjigo’s earning capacity was likely to be. While attorneys representing the U.S. government acknowledged her commendable work in Uganda, they also highlighted that her most recent job was at a restaurant where she was earning roughly $15 an hour.

Nakajjigo’s earning potential was highly contested throughout the trial, as her family argued she would have continued her philanthropic efforts, with the family attorney arguing she would have likely made millions over the course of her lifetime.

Under Utah civil law, the loss of earning capacity is determined by several factors. They include the following:

• Actual earnings
• Work and earning capacity before the accident and after the accident
• What the victim was capable of earning had the injury not occurred
• Any other factors related to employment

Following a highly contested trial, Judge Bruce Jenkins awarded just over $10 million to the family, with Nakajjigo’s husband being awarded $9.5 million; her mother Christine Namagembe, $700,000; and her father John Bosco Kateregga, $350,000.

The family attorney Randi McGinn shared in a statement, “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.”