Police have cautioned road users to observe traffic and road safety laws and regulations, and be careful to prevent accidents.
This follows the death of six people who died on spot, while three others sustained injuries in a road crash that occurred yesterday morning at Kakiika along Ntungamo-Rukungiri road in Ntungamo District western Uganda. The crash involved motor vehicles UBN 337H, a Toyota Hiace (taxi), and UAP 385U, an Isuzu bus belonging to Kasaaba Bus Company.
SP Kananura Michael, the traffic police spokesperson says the taxi which was coming from Rukungiri to Ntungamo got a tyre puncture and parked on the right-hand side of the road, leaving part of the vehicle on the tarmac while attempting to fix the tyre, with full lights on.
“Unfortunately, the bus, which was coming from Kampala and heading to Rukungiri, veered off the road and collided head-on with the parked omnibus, instantly killing six people, including the driver, the turn man, and a police officer attached to Nsangi Police Station, and injuring three others.”
“The traffic police responded to the scene immediately and transported the victims to Devine Health & Ntungamo Specialist Medical Centre for medical attention,” he added, noting that the bodies have been conveyed to Rwashameire Health Centre IV for post-mortem examination.
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The management of Kasaaba buses condoled with the families of those who lost their lives. They noted that as the taxi maintained full headlights, it had no hazard lights, nor warning triangle or tree branches to show that the Taxi was parked and had a mechanical problem.
“When the bus approached from Rwashamaire side to Rukungiri the bus driver kept left and while negotiating the bend at minimum speed, he noticed a car parked on his very left side, he tried to maneuver but it became impossible and vehicles came into contact, hitting people who had moved out of the taxi to witness tyre changing and the bus went off the road, later it was noted that 6 passed on, no death reported for passengers on the bus, only shock and minor injuries registered in the bus.”
“We regret the incident and shall work with authorities to assist them establish the exact cause of accident. We remain committed to safety on the road as we transport passengers routinely,” management noted in a statement.
Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety Annual Performance Report 2023 highlights that the trend of traffic accident deaths is on the increase in Uganda.
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Of the 37,449 vehicles involved in accidents in 2022, the number of motorcycles was 13,386, accounting for 36% of the total number of vehicles involved. Of those accidents, 2,498 were fatal, about 9,668 were serious and only 1, 220 were minor accidents.
