Kamuli accident claims five
Sep 05, 2017
The taxi was over speeding while the tractor had no headlamps, save for a small handheld torch
Five people died while ten others were hospitalised in critical condition in Kamuli district following an accident involving a commuter taxi and a tractor loaded with sugarcane.
The accident happened at Kabukye village, about four kilometres on Kamuli-Jinja road when the taxi, registration number UAN 609U had a head-on collision with the tractor, registration number UAA 050B at around 9:45pm on Monday night.
According to the Police spokesperson for Busoga North, Michael Kasadha, the taxi was speeding from Jinja to Kamuli, while the tractor was ferrying sugarcane to Kamuli sugar factory.
Police identified the deceased as Immaculate Nangobi, 35, a resident of Industrial Area in Kamuli Municipality, Annet Kayanga, 40, of Namwendwa, also the sister to Stephen Mubiru who is Ugandan's ambassador to Malaysia and Yokana Isabirye, 30, the resident of Bulopa.
Others are Moses Waiswa, 35, the driver of the taxi and another man whose remains were claimed by relatives from the Kamuli Hospital mortuary before Police could identify him.
Sources said Waiswa who hails from Mailo Mbili stage in Jinja was not an experienced driver. He was however given the car by a friend to ferry the passengers to Kamuli.
Among the survivors were Whitney Nabirye, 5, and Job Mukisa, all children of Nangobi who lot her life in the accident.
Other survivors admitted in Kamuli General Hospital are Manueri Nkaayi, 28, Edward Mugeere, a resident of Mafubira in Jnja Municipality and Faisali Bulo of Industrial Area in Kamuli
Police had to fire teargas to disperse angry residents at the scene of the accident after they torched the tractor's front tires.
Kasadha said Police is still gathering information regarding to the cause of the accident however, owing to the survivors' statements, the taxi was over speeding while the tractor had no headlamps, save for a small handheld torch.
"With the security, time factor and liberal market, it is tricky to restrict vehicles' movement to ferry produce. We just need to regulate them" Kasadha said.