Cavendish University student, child die in truck crash

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Tragedy struck close to Busowoko Falls in Jinja district on Monday as a motor crash claimed the lives of Marion Mandela, a 30-year-old law student at Cavendish University, and five-year-old Jordan Ssekanyonyi from Busowoko B in Butagaya sub-county. 

Their untimely deaths have left their families and the community in deep mourning.

According to police, Mandela had gone to Busowoko Falls for tubing on River Nile, while the child was playing by the river bank.

Simon Kalende, a resident of the area, noted that the two were killed after a truck lost control and crashed into the deceased persons. He explained that the truck struggled to go uphill.

James Mubi, the Kiira region spokesperson speaking to New Vision, said the incident happened 200 meters away from Busowoko Falls.

Mubi said the truck, registration number UAY 312Y, lost control after it failed to go uphill due to mechanical conditions.

"As the driver lost control, the truck turned back, crashing into the two. This is a tragic loss of young lives, and we urge motorists to exercise caution and respect traffic regulations," he said.

The driver was taken into police custody and is expected to face charges of reckless driving and causing death by negligence.

Police have reignited calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and greater efforts to reduce road carnage in Uganda.

According to statistics, a total of 3,901 fatalities were recorded in 2022, with 4,179 in 2023.

Serious injuries were 10,776 in 2022, with 12,487 in 2023, and minor injuries at 5,717 in 2022 and 6,942 in 2023.