Hoima Court remands owner of the vehicle linked to Banura's death

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The owner of the vehicle linked to the death of Peter Banura, the Kikuube District Chairman, has been charged and remanded to Kiryateete Government Prison in Hoima city.

Banura, the son of Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Matayo Kyaligonza died on April 4, after he was hit by a fast-moving commuter taxi, in Butyamba-Kamusunsi village, Kiziranfumbi Town Council, along Hoima Fort Road.

The incident occurred moments after he stopped by the roadside to drop off casual workers at Bukinda, an informal Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.

Solomon Sabiti, a businessman and owner of taxi registration number UBQ 853E, appeared in court on Friday, April 10. He was brought before the Hoima Chief Magistrate’s Court after spending the night in a cell at the Hoima City Central Police Station.

Sabiti, a resident of Kiboga village, Katooke town council in Kyenjojo district, was charged with failing to keep the proper records of his driver.

He was arrested as he followed up on his impounded vehicle (Taxi), currently parked at Kikuube police station.

On Friday, the court presided over by His Worship George Kunihira heard that Sabiti had no record for his driver of the vehicle, who reportedly fled the scene after the fatal accident.

"You are not charged of falling to produce the driver, you are charged of failing to keep the record of your driver because you are supposed to keep records and for the record they mean the driving permit, because the law supposes that if you employ somebody to drive your motor vehicle, you have a duty to keep the license and the particulars of that driver," Kunihira said.

Sabiti was remanded without taking plea and is expected to reappear in court on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, for further proceedings. His request for bail on health grounds was not granted.

Court heard that the deceased, who had parked his vehicle by the roadside near the IDP camp, was hit while attempting to give way to a speeding taxi vehicle that appeared likely to collide with his car.

After the accident, the driver, whom police suspect was driving under the influence of alcohol, escaped after hitting Banura and Christine Amutuhaire, a casual worker.

Two other victims who sustained serious injuries in the same incident remain admitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.

The Albertine Regional Police Public Relations Officer, SP Julius Allan Hakiza, said investigations into the incident are ongoing as the police continue efforts to trace and arrest the driver.

Sabiti’s arrest came on the same day the late Banura was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Rumiina village, Buhimba town council in Kikuube district.