Ex-minister killed in car crash with family

Prominent Ugandan urologist and former minister Dr. Henry Benjamin Obonyo has died in a car accident.

Obonyo, who served as health minister under Tito Okello Lutwa's brief regime, was killed in a nasty car crash together with his wife Kevina and their two daughters Marjorie and Aliser.

He had just returned from the United Kingdom (UK) where he had been living since 1986.

Dr. Obonyo delivering an eulogy at the burial of Bazilio Okello Olara in Madi Opei, Lamwo district early last year

The accident happened along the Kampala-Gulu highway as Obonyo and his family were on their way to his ancestral home in Madi-Opei, Lamwo district.

Their vehicle overturned at St. Thomas Moore Minakulu in Bobi sub-county, Gulu district, according to Aswa regional police commander Wilson Kwanya.

Kwanya told New Vision that the vehicle - a Super Custom van (UAU249K) - overturned several times after a tyre burst.

Four people died on spot and others were rushed to different hospitals, including the driver identified as Denis Gakumba, a resident of Kawempe division in Kampala.

Information later indicated that Gakumba was arrested.

The ill-fated vehicle at the police station. (Credit: Jackson Kitara)

The vehicle was reportedly hired from Kampala. "He had just come from the airport and was going home in Lamwo. The vehicle and the driver were hired from Kampala.  I have not yet established the names of the injured," said Kwanya.

The bodies were taken to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital mortuary before later being transferred to 4th division military barracks.

Obonyo served as a urology doctor at Mulago Hospital.