By Ritah Kemigisa & Daniel Wandera
The death toll from the Nakasongola bus accident has risen to seven.
Seven people have been confirmed dead and 11 injured in a road accident that occured at Namayonjo village, Nakasongola District on Wednesday morning involving a bus and a truck.
The Nakasongola fatal accident according to the Traffic Directorate Spokesperson Mr Charles Ssebambulidde involved a bus Reg.No.UAQ 643W belonging to Roblyn Coaches that reportedly rammed into a packed truck Reg. No. UAX 001Y with the preliminary findings pointing to reckless driving.
“The bus that was traveling to Kitgum District from Kampala City rammed into the Stationary truck at Namayonjo village. It is believed that the bus driver was possibly speeding and there were no road signs to signal that the truck was parked. Both vehicles were moving in the same direction,” Ssebambulidde said in a brief telephone interview.
Mr Christopher Ssendijja, the Officer in Charge Nakasongola Police Station on Wednesday said 5 people died on the spot while two of the victims died as they were being rushed to hospital.
“We rushed at the accident scene at 1:00am and tried our best to ensure that we save lives from the accident wreckage on the Kampala-Gulu Highway. It is unfortunate that 2 of the injured victims of the accident were pronounced dead on their wat to hospital. We have always cautioned drivers to ensure that they get police help and ensure that the road is secured when their respective vehicles develop mechanical problems. In this particular accident, there were no road signs to warn the other road users about the parked truck that had developed a mechanical problem,” Ssendijja explains in an interview.
Mr Ssendijja identifies the deceased persons as Johnson Akena, Suzan Okello, Mathew Ochola, Stella Namono, Rose Atoo, Brian Birakwate and un identified mechanic who is believed to have been trying to fix a tire on to the parked truck.
The identities of the injured include Wilfred Oyirot (50), Christine Komugisha (26), Solomon Obalimo (28), Moses Eliu (40), Lamech Okello(27) and Gift Tumusiime (26). The injured were rushed to Nakasongola Health Centre IV, Nakasongola Military Hospital and Bishop Asil Memorial Hospital in Luweero District.
An eye witness Mr Lugonvu Patrick, the LC1 Chairperson Namayonjo village claimed that he had a loud bung and thought that it was a bullet. He later pipped through the house window and discovered that it was an accident. I rushed to the scene and later alerted the police. I was later joined by other residents to rescue some of the accident victims. I thank the police for quickly responding to my call, emergency call, Lugonvu claimed in an interview.
