Koboko RDC perishes in nasty Kampala-Masaka road accident
The Koboko Resident District Commissioner, Isaac Kawooya and five others have perished in a nasty accident along the Kampala – Masaka highway.
According to the acting police spokesperson for Katonga region, Joseph Musana the accident happened on Friday morning at around 7:45am at Mpambire swamp, 3 miles from Mpigi town when a trailer with Tanzanian registration numbers TZ881DNG got involved in a head on collision with a Toyota Premio.
“The Toyota was smashed beyond repair and all its six occupants died on spot,” Musana told the Nile Post in a phone interview.
He named the deceased as Kawooya, Abdallah Muwonge, 54, the driver of the Premio and a resident of Nyamitanga in Mbarara district, Anasipasi Muakamali, 66, a female adult of Rwandese origin, Christine Aharizira, 25, a resident of Mutojo, Ntungamo district, Mansur Ssemanda, 55, from Kakoba central in Mbarara district and an unidentified five year juvenile.
He said the accident could have been caused by over speeding and reckless driving during the heavy morning downpour.
“The bodies have been taken to Mulago city mortuary for postmortem examination as investigations into the accident continue,” the police publicist said.
Musana said they are hunting for the driver of the trailer who is on the run to explain the circumstances leading to the fatal accident.
He also warned drivers of over speeding and reckless driving.
The Uganda Media Centre Executive Director, Ofwono Opondo said Kawooya was travelling from Mbarara back to Koboko after the attending the installation of Mbarara district Khadhi.
A number of fatal accidents along the Kampala- Masaka highway have seen a number of people killed in past years.
In December 2015, Bukomansimbi Woman MP Suzan Namaganda died when a taxi collided with a vehicle in which she was travelling at Mpanga forest, Mpigi district , along Masaka road.
On July 2,2016, a tragic incident happened at Kampirigisa along Masaka road when over 4 vehicles including taxis, trailer and Toyota Noah had a head-on collision that led to death of over 20 people.
In September 2017, 13 people, 12 of whom were relatives and Tanzanian nationals perished in a night accident at Lubanda trading centre, about 80 metres from a Fika Salama check point near R.Katonga bridge in Mpigi district.
The group traveling in a coaster was coming from a wedding party of their daughter, Dr Annette Ibingira and her husband Dr Treasurer Ibingira at Kampala Parents' School.
The Police director in charge of Traffic, Dr. Stephen Kasiima recently revealed that accidents along the Kampala- Masaka highway are a common occurrence because the road has surpassed its original traffic capacity.
He said the road was meant to carry a capacity of only 150,000 vehicles a month but noted the number has increased to more than one million vehicles a month.
“The congestion on the road has come with effects like accidents caused by reckless and speedy drivers,” Kasiima said during the launch of a marathon to raise funds for the construction of an emergency ward at Nkozi hospital for accident victims along Kampala-Masaka highway.
He revealed that since its reconstruction by UNRA, the Kampala- Masaka road has claimed many people because most of the drivers neglect road signs.
“Most accidents on the road have happened along climbing lanes when drivers try to overtake yet it is not allowed,” he added.
