Driver fined sh16m for causing death of four family members

A driver has been fined sh16m for causing the death of four people through reckless driving or be imprisoned for two years if he fails to pay the money within seven days.

31-year-old David Kakumba who drove a Toyota Super Custom vehicle reg. no. UAU 249K, was convicted on Thursday by the Gulu grade magistrate one, Paul Abdonson Owino when court found him guilty on three counts.

Kakumba, a resident of Kawempe Vision in Kampala was found guilty of Causing Death through Reckless driving on Count 1, contrary to section 108 (1)(a) and (b) of the Traffic and Road Safety Act.

The traffic case was filed as TAR 01 of 2016 and court number is T) 01 of 2016 of Gulu.

On the second Count, Kakumba was found guilty of causing body injury, contrary to section 108 and Reckless driving on count 3, which is contrary to section sections 35 (1) and 176 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998.

Prosecution represented by Paul Wepondi said Kakumba committed the offences on January 2, 2016 while at Minakulu, Obalo-wat village along the Gulu-Kampala Highway, where four people died on the spot and four others sustained serious after the vehicle he was driving lost control.

Prosecution stated from the affidavits that the dead included Marjorie Obonyo aged 30, Kevin Obonyo, 65, Dr. Henry Benjamin Obonyo aged 75 and Elizabeth Obonyo aged 45.

Those who sustained serious injuries included Karoline Obonyo, Annabel Obonyo, Gabi Obonyo and Adellia Obonyo.

Katumba was sent to Gulu Central Prison where he will either remain to serve his two year sentence or be released upon paying the sh16 within the time gazetted by the court.