Miss Tourism Northern Uganda, NTV reporter die in accident

By Simon Ssekidde

Three people, including a local TV journalist and a beauty queen, were killed in a road accident along the Masaka-Kampala highway on Saturday.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly lost control of the vehicle and it swerved off the road and plunged into a swamp.

Resty Namawejje, a journalist working with NTV Uganda and Norah Atim, the Miss Tourism Northern Uganda 2014, died on spot, police said.

Barbara Nakiwolo, another occupant of the ill-fated car, was pronounced dead upon reaching Mulago Hospital in Kampala, said Philip Mukasa, the police spokesperson for Katonga region.

Other travellers in the same vehicle – a Toyota Prado – survived but were badly hurt and were rushed to Mulago for medical attention.
 

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RIP: Resty Namawejje died on spot. (Credit: Simon Ssekidde)

The accident happened at around 4.50pm local time at Nsimbe in Mpigi district, according to local police.

Those who survived include: Patrick Muhiire, an official working with the Uganda Tourism Board; David Gumisiriza, an NTV cameraman; Jullian Kyomuhendo, a journalist with ABS TV; Betty Kyachwo and Rehema Najjengo both students at Makerere University and a one Ivan Sebbuuma.

They were destined for Mbarara for the Miss Tourism beauty pageant for Western Uganda.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver was trying to overtake a commuter taxi but the vehicle in the front refused to give way, sending the Prado crashing into the swamp.
 

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The wreckage of the ill-fated Toyota Prado at Mpigi Central Police Station. (Credit: Simon Ssekidde)

Police’s Philip Mukasa blamed the accident on careless driving on the part of the Prado driver who the police have not yet identified.

“We suspect that the driver was on high speed, according to our preliminary investigations,” he said.

The vehicle, designed to carry a maximum six passengers, was instead carrying nine.

The bodies of the two victims who died on spot were taken to Mpigi hospital mortuary and the wreckage of the vehicle towed to Mpigi Central Police Station.

Namawejje is understood to have been working in the production department of NTV Uganda and news of her death came as a shock to her workmates.

"She has been a hardworking lady and in fact, she has been killed while on duty. We shall greatly miss her," cried one of her colleagues.