Irate crowds shut Kyenjojo streets
May 07, 2009
KYENJOJO town remained under tight security after violent crowds yesterday barricaded the Fort Portal-Kampala, Kyenjojo-Hoima and Kyenjojo-Kamwenge highways, blocking traffic.
By Hope Mafaranga
KYENJOJO town remained under tight security after violent crowds yesterday barricaded the Fort Portal-Kampala, Kyenjojo-Hoima and Kyenjojo-Kamwenge highways, blocking traffic.
The enraged residents were protesting the failure of the Ministry of Works to construct humps or any form of speed governors on the busy roads.
This followed an accident in which a lorry rammed into a commercial building, killing one person and injuring four others.
The accident occurred at 2:00am as the family of Rwakijuma Mulefu, a local businessman, was asleep.
A woman identified as Caroline Kobugabe, 24, died on the spot and four others sustained injuries and were taken to Buhinga Hospital in critical condition.
“The situation is tense. We are still trying to bring it to normal by talking to the demonstrators,†said George Sabiiti, the Kyenjojo district Police commander.
“The ministry has failed to put humps on this road. People are dying everyday,†a resident shouted. “We cannot sit and watch our brothers and sisters die while the ministry is quiet about it.â€
Sabiiti said the lorry from Kampala heading to Kasese district and driven by Anthony Kyaruzi, 26, of Kitebi in Kampala, was carrying merchandise. Kyarunzi lost control and rammed into the building.
The injured were identified as Fiona Kabatalesa, 18 and Judith Kahuga, 19, both residents of Kyenjojo.
Others were Emmanuel Mbusa, 27, a businessman from Bwera in Kasese and John Tushabe, 31, from Mbarara. They were travelling in the lorry. By press time, the Police had contained the mob that had started looting shops and hotels.
The regional Police spokesperson, Elly Matte, said the Police records an accident every week between Kakabara and Kyakatara, which is over 90 km from Kyenjojo town.
He said the road did not have signposts to warn drivers of black spots or sharp corners and steep slopes.
Traffic on the Fort Portal-Kampala highway has increased since the completion of the road in 2001.
KYENJOJO town remained under tight security after violent crowds yesterday barricaded the Fort Portal-Kampala, Kyenjojo-Hoima and Kyenjojo-Kamwenge highways, blocking traffic.
The enraged residents were protesting the failure of the Ministry of Works to construct humps or any form of speed governors on the busy roads.
This followed an accident in which a lorry rammed into a commercial building, killing one person and injuring four others.
The accident occurred at 2:00am as the family of Rwakijuma Mulefu, a local businessman, was asleep.
A woman identified as Caroline Kobugabe, 24, died on the spot and four others sustained injuries and were taken to Buhinga Hospital in critical condition.
“The situation is tense. We are still trying to bring it to normal by talking to the demonstrators,†said George Sabiiti, the Kyenjojo district Police commander.
“The ministry has failed to put humps on this road. People are dying everyday,†a resident shouted. “We cannot sit and watch our brothers and sisters die while the ministry is quiet about it.â€
Sabiiti said the lorry from Kampala heading to Kasese district and driven by Anthony Kyaruzi, 26, of Kitebi in Kampala, was carrying merchandise. Kyarunzi lost control and rammed into the building.
The injured were identified as Fiona Kabatalesa, 18 and Judith Kahuga, 19, both residents of Kyenjojo.
Others were Emmanuel Mbusa, 27, a businessman from Bwera in Kasese and John Tushabe, 31, from Mbarara. They were travelling in the lorry. By press time, the Police had contained the mob that had started looting shops and hotels.
The regional Police spokesperson, Elly Matte, said the Police records an accident every week between Kakabara and Kyakatara, which is over 90 km from Kyenjojo town.
He said the road did not have signposts to warn drivers of black spots or sharp corners and steep slopes.
Traffic on the Fort Portal-Kampala highway has increased since the completion of the road in 2001.