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Police are hunting for Yusuf Maggwa, a driver who allegedly knocked and injured pilgrims who were on their way to Namugongo to commemorate Martyr’s Day on Saturday, June 3.

Police have identified the injured as; Jennifer Nambuya, Winfred Taka, Fred Elebu and John Bosco Balole, who all hail from Bugiri and are nursing wounds at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for medical attention.

Fred Enanga, the Police spokesperson said the incident involving the Toyota-Isuzu registration number UBE 168J happened at Mailo-Mbili, Kamuli roundabout along the Jinja – Iganga Highway on Sunday.

Enanga said the driver (Maggwa) a resident of Buwekula ward, Bugembe division(in Jinja North division), swerved off the road to avoid hitting a commuter taxi. It was in the process that he knocked the pilgrims.

Enanga said the driver fled the scene and also attempted to hide the truck involved in the accident.

While addressing the weekly Joint security conference at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala on Monday, Enanga said the truck was later recovered and impounded by the police.

Enanga was flanked by the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, Osborne Mushabe, National Identification and Registration Authority(NIRA) and Derrick Basalirwa from the Internal Affairs Ministry.

Arrivals

During the conference, Enanga said they (Police) had registered safe arrivals of pilgrims from the districts of Kasese Fortportal, Kyenjojo, Mubende, Bushenyi, Rukungiri, Ntungamo and Isingiro.

“We continue to escort and protect pilgrims from Nyavuru and Kakamega parishes from the Republic of Kenya under the leadership of Fr. Patrick Murunga. They crossed into Uganda on May 25, through Malaba border point,” he said.

Enanga said the driver (Maggwa) a resident of Buwekula ward, Bugembe division(in Jinja North division), swerved off the road to avoid hitting a commuter taxi. It was in the process that he knocked the pilgrims.

Enanga said so far at least 3,000 pilgrims have safely arrived at Namugongo at both the Catholic and Anglican shrines.

Jinja Diocese will lead this year’s celebrations at the Namugongo Catholic Martyrs' shrine under the theme, "Lord, increase our faith"(Luke 17-5). The Jinja team is expected to arrive at Namugongo and Nakiyanja on Tuesday (May 30 2023).

The primary responsibility of the police and sister security agencies is to ensure the safety of all pilgrims. We continue to provide route and venue security to all pilgrims trekking to Namugongo and Nakiyanja.

Heavy deployment 

Security has been heightened at both the Catholic and Protestant shrines.

Enanga said that the Police chief Okoth Ochola, has applauded the police and sister security agencies for effectively providing protective cover to pilgrims trekking to Namugongo as part of the annual religious commemoration of the Uganda Martyrs, to purposely renew their faith.

He said although there was no specific terror threat targeting the celebrations in Namugongo, security have scaled up their anti-terrorism measures.

Enanga said residents within the area should expect disruptions in their travel and advises them to follow regulations and also move with their national identity cards.

Subsequently, he said firearms, balloons, bicycles, drones, dogs(except for the police) thermal flasks and paper spray are banned from the facility. He said police would ‘man’ the long queues of pilgrims.