By Mary Karugaba,
Jude Kafuuma
and John Ssemakula

MEMBERS of Parliament yesterday blamed the death of Budiope county MP, Henry Balikoowa, on poor roads and failure by the Government to enforce traffic rules.

Balikoowa, 40, died in a car accident in Mabira Forest on Sunday at about 10:15pm. The accident occurred close to the Najjembe picnic site on the Kampala-Jinja highway.

The MP’s vehicle, a Land Cruiser Prado, was heading to Kampala when it collided with a sugar cane tractor that was heading to Jinja.

The tractor belongs to the Lugazi-based Sugar Corporation of Uganda. It was reportedly heading to the nearby plantations to fetch sugar cane.

The driver of the tractor, Emanuel Mambo, fled after the accident, said Paul Okong, the traffic officer at Lugazi Police Station. Mambo was arrested later.

Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said preliminary investigations revealed that Mambo was driving in the middle of the road. When the MP’s car approached, he swerved the tractor back into the right lane but it was too late. The MP’s car hit the tractor’s big rear tyre and crashed into the semi-trailer, which was still in the wrong lane.

The MP was travelling alone. His body was cut out from the Prado by rescuers. The stretch where the accident occurred has several potholes.

The MPs described the death of Balikoowa as unfortunate. They urged the works and transport ministry to put a time limit for the movement of heavy trucks.

Several MPs noted that heavy trucks that move at night are normally in poor mechanical condition.

“A few weeks ago, I and the late MP told the works minister that there was need to regulate the movement of heavy trucks, especially at night. We also told him about the potholes on the Jinja-Kampala highway,” said Cosmos Bisima (NRM).

MPs Abdul Katuntu and Elijah Okupa were among the MPs who first arrived at the scene. The MPs said they were also travelling at night as they were returning from their constituencies.

“We arrived at the scene shortly after the accident and tried to contact the Police authorities for help. Unfortunately, by the time the team arrived, it was too late to save him,” Katuntu said.
Most MPs interviewed by the New Vision described Balikoowa as hardworking, well informed, social and cooperative.

According to Katuntu, Balikoowa will be remembered for his strong views on the just concluded Land Amendment Bill and for exposing the soldiers who allegedly beat up people in Busoga during the contested Kyabazinga elections.

“It’s unfortunate that we have lost a very young man whose political views were honest. He greatly opposed Section 32 of the Bill. He also presented the pictures of soldiers beating up people during the violence that rocked Busoga during the elections,” Katuntu said.

Nathan Byanyima (NRM) described the late MP as the accountant of the physical infrastructure committee. “The man knew how to play with figures. He was our accountant on the committee and had good analytical arguments.”

Margaret Kiboijana (NRM) said Balikoowa was a young, focused man with a sense of national service. Florence Kashaka (NRM) called on the Police to deploy more traffic officers along the highways during the festive season.
Government Chief Whip Daudi Migereko said the MP’s death had cost the NRM party a highly committed person. “He was extremely friendly and an excellent mobiliser.”

This is the second MP to die in a motor accident in a year. Isingiro Woman MP, Vicky Kyokuhaire Kyaka, perished in a crash in Buwama, Mpigi district in November last year.

And only last month, the Leader of the Opposition, Ogenga Latigo, narrowly survived an accident on the Kampala-Gulu highway. Latigo’s driver and a female student died in the accident which left the MP injured.
Balikoowa, a professional accountant, joined Parliament in 2006. Before that, he worked with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics and Makerere University.

He was part of the parliamentary football team that emerged runners-up in the just concluded tournament in Arusha to mark 10 years of the East African Community.

According to a statement, the body will lie in state at Parliament today from midday. A special session of Parliament will pay tribute to the late MP.

Meanwhile, the news of their MP’s demise was received with shock and disbelief by his constituents yesterday.

As early as 7:00am, residents gathered in small groups in trading centres as details started trickling in over local FM radios.

Stephen Mubiru, the Kamuli LC5 chairman, described the deceased as an instrumental pillar in the politics of Kamuli.
“He worked tirelessly to ensure that Budiope is carved out of Kamuli as a new district to enable services get nearer to his constituents. He should have lived longer to enjoy the fruits of his labour,” Mubiru said.

Thomas Mpambi, a resident, wondered why Budiope politicians keep dying of road accidents. “Former district chairman Kaloli Baligeya knocked a cow and died and now Balikowa has knocked a sugar cane tractor and perished,” he said.

Additional reporting by George Bita in Kamuli