Pupils survive accident in Jinja
About eight pupils mostly those that were seated in the front seats sustained minor injuries and were taken by the police to Jinja hospital for medical examination.
A vehicle Reg. No. UAF 205H which was carrying P.4 pupils of Madvani primary school in Jinja district rammed into an electric pole in Jinja city on Thursday evening. Photos by Charles Kakamwa
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
About 30 pupils of Madhvani primary school in Kakira, Jinja district survived death on Thursday evening when a vehicle they were travelling in rammed into an electric pole in Jinja town.
The incident happened at about 5.00pm as the primary four pupils were returning to school from the Jinja show grounds where they visited the ongoing ‘National Agricultural Education Show’ which started on Wednesday.
A teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the driver of the ill-fated coaster Reg. No. UAF 205H lost control as he tried to join Main Street from Bell Avenue before knocking a pavement and a solar power electric pole in the middle of the double lane Main Street. The driver disappeared thereafter.
About eight pupils mostly those that were seated in the front seats sustained minor injuries and were taken by the police to Jinja hospital for medical examination.
Others, together with their teachers, remained stranded on the roadsides for some time as teachers tried to get other means back to school.
Though some pupils did not sustain physical injuries, they were seen with tears rolling down their cheeks, probably as a result of the shock from the incident.
This was the second such accident on the same day after another vehicle carrying students to the same event knocked a tree near Amber court roundabout in Jinja city in the morning.
Kiira regional police spokesman James Mubi confirmed the incident, adding that investigations were underway to establish the cause of the accident.
He advised school authorities to ensure they hire only roadworthy vehicles to transport children and avoid overloading and other traffic-related crimes.
About the show
This is the first ‘National Agricultural Education Show’ organized by Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) and is running from June 8th to 12th under the theme ‘Farming for a prosperous future’.
According to UNFFE chief executive officer Kenneth Katungisa, this particular show targets youth and children in schools.
“It is meant to create skilled, technical and hands-on youthful farm managers with the appropriate hands-on skills and the right attitude to drive the agro-industrialization effort and instil succession planning in the sector,” Katungisa said.
The Source of the Nile Agricultural and Trade Show which usually takes place in July, was this time round pushed to August and will run from 5th to 14, August 2022, targeting adults and farmers, according to UNFFE.