Driver charged over death of four evangelists

By Doreen Musingo

THE driver of the trailer that rammed into a vehicle, in which four evangelists were traveling, leading to their death along the Jinja-Iganga highway recently has been charged in court.

Charles Masangele,35, on Friday appeared before Jinja Grade Two Magistrate Bena Najjuko who charged him with five counts of  reckless driving and causing death.

Prosecution told court that October 27 at Kakira along the Jinja-Iganga highway, the accused who was driving a trailer registration number UAD 622G/UAD259Q rammed into a Toyota super custom in which the evangelists were traveling and killed them on spot.

The 7:00pm incident happened as the evangelists were returning to Kampala from a preaching crusade in Namutumba district in Busoga.

The four included Bishop John Michael Mugerwa the founding pastor of Saints Pentecostal Church in Katwe, Kampala two visiting American preaches Dr. Reos Godzuk and Leos Both from Phoenix Arizona and Ronnie Ssebunya a Ugandan.

Court heard that due to over speeding and reckless driving, Masangele caused the death of the four persons.

Prosecution said Masangele a resident of Nyendo-Nakayiba in Masaka municipality in Masaka district, was driving the trailer that crashed the car pastor Mugerwa and his three colleauges were traveling in.

Court further heard that as the pastors’ vehicle attempted to over take two fuel tankers, the driver realized there was oncoming traffic so he decided to squeeze into a narrow gap between the trailers.

The leading trailer reduced speed while the trailer at the back rammed into them. Najjuko did not allow Masangele to enter any plea, saying her court did not have the jurisdiction over the case. She said she was only reading and explaining the charges to the accused.

“This case is beyond my court, we are reading the charges to you in Luganda so that you understand them. You will not enter plea for because you are supposed to be before the chief magistrate,” Najjuko said.

Earlier Masangele had told the magistrate that he does not understand English or any other language apart from Luganda.

Najjuko remanded Masangele until November 7th this year when he appear before the Jinja chief magistrate for mentioning of the case.