Toroma MP killed in Kampala-Jinja road crash

BUIKWE - Toroma Country MP Cyrus Amodoi Imalingat (pictured) is among those confirmed dead in a crash involving three vehicles along the Kampala-Jinja highway.

Eyewitnesses said the Tuesday night accident happened when a truck headed for Kampala from Jinja lost control and rammed into two commuter taxis.

One of the taxis was travelling from Busia to Kampala while the other was reportedly moving in the opposite direction.

The cause of the crash is not known yet but Sezibwa Region police commander Onen Chan, at the scene, said "there could have been a problem with the truck itself".

Thirteen travelers had been rescued, he added.

The scene of the deadly accident. (Photo credit: Police)

Among those killed were students of Uganda Martrys' University Nkozi who were believed to have been from graduating as they were wearing graduation gowns.

Teso parlimentary chairman Bishop Patrick Okabe confirmed to Vision Group's Etop Radio that legislator Amodoi had died in the accident.

The accident occurred at Kitigoma in Buikwe along the Kampala-Jinja highway.

"So far, 13 have been rescued from both taxis and the truck. Nine dead bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage," said DPC Chan.

"We are waiting for a crane to pull out the truck so we get to know how many could have remained in the taxis. That's what happened, otherwise it was very unfortunate."

Asked what could have caused the crash, he said: "As per now, we can't establish but we believe there could have been a problem with the truck itself."

The bodies of the dead were taken to Jinja Referral Hospital mortuary and the casualties to the same health facility and Kawolo General Hospital.

The truck's number plate is UAN 447X and the taxis: UAL 278F (Busia to Kampala) and UAW 200W (Mbale from Kampala).