17 die in Xmas road accidents

By Vision Reporter A TOTAL of 17 people perished in motor accidents over Christmas in central Uganda. Swipco managing director Agnes Omukyeya Katama perished with two children in her care when her Toyota Prado UAB 268R overturned on Friday evening on the Kalongo-Mubende highway enroute to Fort Portal. Police spokesman Asuman Mugenyi identified the two children as Andrew Mugenyi, 3, and Margaret Mwirumbi, 2. Her brother Bernard Katama, 35, and three others including Arthur Katama, 28, Wildred Mubiru, 28, and a CMI officer, Sam Abula, who were also in the vehicle, suffered serious injuries. The injured were rushed to Mubende Hospital but later transferred to the International Hospital in Kampala. The director of the UPDF band, Major Okello Kafifi, died at Nsambya Hospital on Christmas eve after sustaining serious injuries when his car collided head-on with another at Kibuli-Gaba road junction on December 23. Kampala's deputy chief traffic officer Gabriel Tibayungwa said the Major's Toyota Sprinter H4 DF 378 collided with a Toyota Corona UAA 917B driven by the Rev Fr. Peter D'Souza of Jinja Catholic Diocese. In Kayunga, eight people perished when their taxi overturned around 4.00pm on December 22 at Ssinda. The dead included Fred Batte, 13, of Kayunga, Zubeda Nagawa, 14, of Jinja, Christie Namuddu, 45, David Kiwalabye, 17, of Kangulumira and Barbara Birungi, 15, of Nakulabye. Three others were yet to be identified. Police said 13 people were injured. Meanwhile, on Christmas day in Kampala, one person died after a taxi knocked him dead at Kyambogo junction on Kampala-Jinja highway. Peter Mahindra was knocked by a taxi, Police said. Four people died and four others were seriously injured yesterday after their car collided head-on with another on the Kasese-Kilembe road. The accident occurred at 11:00am near Margherita Hotel. The Police identified the dead as Seguya Kamoga, John Turyamureba, Donasio Karusigaliza and an unidentified woman. Three of the injured were Danes travelling in a red double-cabin 072UAW. The Danes were identified as Ole Fred Kenson, Susan Mozrsck and Jane Fredrick, charity workers. Ends