Hoima district chairperson Kadiri Kirungi, who perished in a car crash on Friday, has been laid to rest with a call to the Police to enforce traffic rules in order to mitigate road carnage.

Uganda Local Government Association (UGLA) chairperson Richard Rwabuhinga expressed concern over the increasing road carnage in the country while addressing hundreds of mourners on Sunday that turned up for Kadiri's sendoff who perished in a car crash at night in Kiboga district.

Rwabuhinga said the lack of observation of the traffic rules has left several people losing their lives on roads.

Kidiri, 47, and his bodyguard, Otim Bosco, died on spot after a moving Fuso lorry registration number UBB 059Z collided with their vehicle, Prado registration number UAH 053Q, which Kadiri was driving at Mataagi village, Bukomero town council on the Kampala-Hoima highway in Kiboga.

Rwabuhinga said there is a need for traffic Police to double efforts in enforcing the observance of traffic rules on the road. 

Kadiri’s widow Anna Mugoya speaks during the burial ceremony on Sunday. Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi

The children led by the oldest son Osman addressing the mourners. Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi

He also urged drivers to observe the traffic guidelines while on the road to reduce car crashes.

Kadiri eulogised

Public service state minister Grace Mary Mugasa described the late Kadiri as a resourceful and developmental leader.

She added that there is a need to have harsh penalties against heavy truck drivers who she accused of not respecting other road users.

Mugasa said there is high indiscipline and lack of respect for traffic rules among truck drivers whom she said do not give way even to the government vehicles and accused them of thinking that they are above traffic regulations.

ULGA chairman Richard Rwabuhinga called for tougher action from Police. Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi

Kadiri’s brother Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube RDC, speaks during the ceremony at their home in Buswekera. Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi

Hoima district vice-chairperson Benson Chiche Rukumba said his boss has been an exceptional leader who has been a good listener and team leader.

"He loved to serve the poor without discrimination and fight against land grabbers," he said and added that while still alive, Kadiri fought several land battles with land speculators vying to grab land from the poor.

Rukumba, who said Kadiri was a selfless leader, has left a 'big gap which will be hard to bridge'. 

First son Lt Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the presidential advisor on special operations, described Kadiri as a leader who loved unity and peace.

Nzeire Kaguta, the brother of President Yoweri Museveni, who represented Muhoozi, said the country had lost a great mobiliser for the MK movement and urged his family members to emulate his example.

Odrek Rwabwogo addresing the moruners. Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi

Nzeire Kaguta offered 10 heifers to Kadiri's family. Photo by Peter Abaanabasazi

He offered 10 heifers to the family to help the children to practice farming to be able to earn money which will help the family to move on.

Bugahya County Member of Parliament, Pius Wakabi, called on the Police to expedite the investigation into the death of the chairperson to ascertain the 'real cause of the accident and to find the driver of the Fuso lorry that led to the car crash'.

He added that Kadiri died at the time when Hoima residents, especially the poor, needed him because of his courage in fighting against land grabbers.

Wakabi said Kadiri’s life has been at stake because of the threats he has been getting from the people he has been blocking from grabbing the land from the poor.

The children of late Kadiri, led by their elder, brother Osman, described their father as a parent who loved and guided them without discrimination and taught them the importance of working hard. They added that their father was a friend to many who loved forgiveness.  

Kadiri was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Buswekera, Hoima city west division.