Police arrest bus driver who knocked a traffic officer, he was certified

The driver of a bus that killed a traffic police officer at Kabakanjagala-Nabunya Junction on Rubaga Road was a certified bus driver.

Police on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of Godfrey Kakonge the driver of a bus Registration no UBA 684T belonging to Divine Coaches.

The bus allegedly killed Corporal Wilfred Tweituk, attached to Old Kampala Police Station while on duty at the junction on March 9, 2018.

Tweituk was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Kisitya cell, Siron ward in Kapchorwa Municipality, Kapichorwa district.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyiire, told New Vision that Kakonge was arrested from Kyetume village in Kyazanga sub-county in Masaka district.

He disclosed that Kakonge had been on the run since the incident;

"We have been tracking him until when we netted him, he did not resist arrest," he said.

Kakonge is detained at Old Kampala Police Station pending investigations and subsequently be produced in court.

The Traffic Police spokesperson, Charles Ssebambulidde, said Kakonge was a certified bus driver with most of the requirements.

Abus driver among others should be certified by the Transport Licensing Board, the Inspector of Vehicles, a valid permit and issued with a badge.

"I cannot tell whether he had a pre-intention to committee the crime or not, but many circumstances were subject to questioning," he said.

Ssebambulidde said the bus was not speeding since it was at the junction and police cannot conclude yet whether it was drink-driving, carelessness, among others since the suspect has been on the run.

He said pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, Kakonge is to be charged with reckless driving and causing the death of a person among others.

Towards the end of last year, Police warned to get reckless drivers off the road.

The police warning reportedly followed after 200 bush drivers failed the driving test, though Ssebambulidde ruled this out.

Ssebambulidde revealed that accidents involving buses had reduced compared to those involving taxis and boda bodas.

He attributed this to intensified sensitization and operations along the major high ways and other accident black spots.

The chairperson United Bus Drivers Association, Yunus Kigundu, said as an umbrella association that brings together bus drivers, they were also investigating the driver's credentials. He however confirmed that he was a member of the association.