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Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng on Sunday paid a visit to at Lira Regional Referral Hospital to condole with the victims of the car crash in Nwoya that left four people dead including the former Erute North MP, Charles Angiro Gutomoi. 

Aceng, who is also the Lira City Woman MP where the victims come from, said those that suffered different types of injuries have been stabilised and are out of danger. 

Four people including Angiro, died in the crash near Ayago within Murchison Falls National Park, on the Karuma-Pakwach Highway on the morning of Saturday, July 8. 

The group travelled in three different vehicles including a bus and the ill-fated Toyota Noah, to attend a traditional marriage ceremony for Emmanuel Isaac Opio and Sandra Ayiorwoth of Nebbi district. 

Opio, the son of Rev. Sam Isaac Erik, lost two of his siblings in the crash with his mother suffering serious injuries while his younger brother survived with minor injuries.  

Aceng who prayed for the victims at Lira Hospital’s emergency unit, directed the emergency ambulance service from Lira and Gulu hospitals to evacuate the injured from Anaka Hospital where they were receiving emergency treatment. 

“They have different types of injuries, some have fractures, some have pelvic injuries, neck injuries but generally, they have been stabilised and are not in critical conditions,” she said. 

She commended the emergency medical teams across the country who respond swiftly to save lives. 

Aceng commended the medical teams from Lira and Gulu regional referral hospitals for a commendable job in swiftly responding to the scene of the accident and evacuating the injured. 

She called on Ugandans to closely work with medical professionals to continue saving lives. 

Tributes 

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat, who was among the people who received the body at Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary described Angiro as a towering political figure. 

He said the deceased stood for the common person and spoke his mind independently and would always put to a check on the government. 

“He was a very vocal voice of the people of Erute North whom we knew were properly represented,” Amuriat said. 

“As FDC, we woke up to the sad news of the death of a friend, colleague, brother, father and this is a big loss not only to the FDC, but the people of Lango and Uganda at large,” he added. 

Accompanied by party secretary general Nandala Mafabi, mobiliser Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, security secretary Amin Sadik, Moses Bitek Jr, Oyam district chairperson Brian Ogutu Jatim, and former Oyam North candidate Newton Okello, they visited Angiro’s home to condole with the family. 

Joy Atim Ongom, former Woman MP for Lira district described Angiro as a fearless person who fully represented the people not only of Erute North but the whole of Northern Uganda. 

She observed that Angiro was a person who would speak his mind without fear and recalled an one day when Angiro organised a demonstration over unstable electricity and that up to now, its supply in Lira is always stable. 

Moses Okot Bitek, the Kioga MP, said Angiro was a political guru who nurtured him in politics. 

He observed that Angiro protested bad roads and if the government had acted fast on the matter, Angiro would still be alive. 

Okot pointed out that Angiro was not a wealthy person but one who was guided by values, something he said is rare in the current generation. 

National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu said, “It is a pity the death of Hon. Charles Angiro Gutmoi, former representative of Erute North constituency. I send my condolences to his family and constituents. May his soul rest in eternal peace.” 

Former FDC president Kizza Besigye said, “The tragic death of Hon Angiro Gutomoi Abac Acon in a road accident is quite devastating. He’s been a strong, principled and straight-talking leader; a great mobilizer and a social worker.” 

Speaker of Parliament Anita Among stated, “It is with great sadness that I received the news of the demise of Hon. Charles Angiro Gutomoi, the former Member of Parliament for Erute North Constituency. 

He made his mark as an eloquent lawmaker who was passionate about education, health, and the social well-being of his people. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, the people of the Erute North, the FDC family, and the people of the Onywal Ipyeda clan. May the Lord comfort his loved ones during this difficult moment and grant his soul eternal rest.” 

Samuel Opio Acuti, the MP of Kole North said, “Deeply saddened by the passing on of the former MP of Erute North, Hon Charles Angiro Gutmoi in a grisly road accident We are experiencing a crisis of road accidents. As a country an urgent intervention is needed. In 2022, there were 20,394 accidents up from 17,443 in 2021 and 12,249 in 2020. 2023 statistics are more worrying. We are not just losing people but losing skill, talent, and leaders.” 

Angiro survived a nasty accident in May 2018 near the Karuma Bridge when he hit a lorry and sustained fractures. 

The clan leader of Onywal Ipyeda clan is survived by a wife and ten children, with over 40 grandchildren according to his son Opio.