Mukono accident kills five

By Geoffrey Kamali And Nicholas Kajjoba FIVE people died yesterday and over 60 were injured when three vehicles, including a Gateway bus, collided at Namawojjolo in Mukono, on the Kampala-Jinja road. Police said four died on the spot while the fifth died on the way to Mulago hospital. Several were admitted to Mulago hospital while others were rushed to Lugazi hospital. All the dead were men. Two of them were identified as Katende Ssebugulu, 18, and Thomas Wanji, 22, from Mukono town. Those admitted to Lugazi were Wasswa Waku, of City Enterprises in Mbale, Mercy Okurut, Zadia Mairo of Mpigi and Moses Dandira. Mukono traffic officer Sam Eyoti said the number of those injured could not be established immediately. "By the time we came to the scene, most people had already been rushed to the hospitals," he said. Eyoti said the death toll was likely to increase. Witnesses said the accident occurred when a tractor carrying sand joined the road when a Gateway bus, UAA 904Q, was speeding by. "I saw it clearly. Our driver avoided hitting the tractor and swerved off to the other side where a line of vehicles was coming. We avoided a Tata truck but a pick-up truck (312 UPS) and an omnibus (UAA 805K) could not survive," said Siraje Kimbowa, who was seated behind the bus driver. The bus, which overturned twice, was heading towards Kampala while the pick-up and commuter taxi were heading towards Jinja. Ends