The trip that never was

On Wednesday morning, students of Bright Future Primary School, Kiboga, set off in three commuter taxi vans for a trip in Kampala. To the pupils, it was the first time  they were going to set foot in the revered city, the biggest town in the country as they had always learnt in their social studies.

The headmaster Tadeo Tuyisenge had hired the taxis from Kasubi, near Kampala. At 5:00am, they set off for the journey. They had moved for only 45 minutes, when the anxiety, excitement and anticipation turned into gloom, grief and wails.

One of the taxi UAZ 482Z rammed into a lorry, parked on the side of the road and four people died, including the headmaster. That marked the end of the journey that pupils had prepared for in the last two months.  

According to Wamala region Police spokesperson, Nobert Achong, Tuyisenge, pupil, God Mukoka aged 9 of P.1, Latiffah Kabanda aged 9 of P.3 died on the spot.

Achong said 21 others were rushed to Kiboga Hospital, while those who were in critical condition were referred to Mulago Hospital. Eyewitenesses, the Police, residents and local politicians all pointed fingers at the reckless use of the narrow Hoima-Kampala road for such nasty accidents.

Butemba County MP, Innocent Kamusiime Pentagon, while visiting the accident victims on their hospital beds at Kiboga suggested that the school administrators should stop using taxis to transport children.