Nabbanja urged to support Gulu teacher injured by her convoy

__________________

GULU

In a heart-wrenching and alarming incident, Gulu district-based Laminto Primary School deputy headteacher Vincent Okot, 55, is battling for his life after sustaining severe injuries in a collision involving Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja's convoy.

The harrowing event unfolded on May 9, 2025, along the Gulu-Kitgum highway as the prime minister was travelling to a belated Women's Day celebration in Kitgum Municipality.

At about 12:20pm, while returning from a visit to the Gulu chief administrative officer's office, Okot reached Arut central village.

In an act of caution, he slowed down and stopped his motorbike to allow a large, rumbling tipper lorry to pass.

As he patiently waited, the sound of roaring engines filled the air, rattling his senses. Soon, he spotted a lead car swiftly followed by a dark vehicle, which he surmised was transporting the Prime Minister.

However, chaos erupted when a separate vehicle occupied by armed men unexpectedly collided with the front wheel of Okot's bike.

The impact sent him tumbling onto the rough asphalt, where his head struck the ground with a thud.

In a horrifying twist, the driver of the speeding vehicle quickly reversed, leaving Okot vulnerable and terrified on the side of the road.

With instinctual fear coursing through him, he crawled into the dense underbrush nearby, seeking refuge as the convoy sped away, disappearing into the distance.

Passersby swiftly came to his aid, transporting him to Karin Medical Centre, where he received critical initial care for his extensive injuries.

However, the situation escalated when he was transferred to St Mary’s Hospital Lacor, where doctors discovered a grievous femoral neck fracture in his right hip.

With no time to lose, he was subsequently moved to Gulu Independence Hospital on May 13, 2025, where he underwent a complex hip replacement surgery to reconstruct his damaged joint.

Vincent Okot, the victim of the road crash, on his hospital bed after his successful Hip replacement operation. (Photo by Christopher Nyeko)

Sadly, this tragic incident has placed an immense burden on Okot's family.

The shillings 12 million he had meticulously set aside for his children's education have now been depleted, consumed by mounting medical bills.

Consequently, his children, eager to learn, remain unable to return to school—a prospect that weighs heavily on Okot's heart.

The incident has been classified as a hit-and-run by local authorities, prompting Aswa County Member of Parliament Simon Peter Wokorach to send an urgent plea to the Prime Minister's Office seeking assistance for Okot and his family.

Although he has received confirmation that his letter was acknowledged, a response has yet to arrive.

Now recuperating at Gulu Independence Hospital, Okot finds himself at a crossroads, making a heartfelt and urgent appeal to Prime Minister Nabbanja for support with his escalating medical expenses, compensation for his injuries, and assistance with transportation.

Concerned about the long-term repercussions of his injury, he fears he may never ride a bicycle again—a simple joy that now feels tragically out of reach.

Dr Ivan Apetik, the orthopedic surgeon who performed Okot's surgery (right hip joint replacement), has emphasised the need for Okot to refrain from any physical activity until he achieves full recovery.

Attempts to elicit a response from the Prime Minister's Office about this distressing incident have proven fruitless, as calls regarding the convoy-related accident have gone unanswered.