MASAKA – Nine people have been confirmed dead following a fatal motor accident that occurred along the Masaka-Mbarara highway on Wednesday night.
The accident involved a trailer truck Reg. No. RAF 168S/RL 1426 and passenger taxi Reg. No. UBJ 084N, which occurred at the Kagganda junction in Kinoni Town Council in Lwengo district.
According to eyewitnesses, the truck, which was moving towards Mbarara lost control before it hit a fully loaded passenger taxi – leading to its overturn, ramming into another car Reg. No. UAP 126A – a Toyata Mark II that was headed towards Masaka.
Richard Komaketch – the Greater Masaka Regional Traffic Police Commander apportioned the blame of the accident to trailer driver whom, he said lost control after the truck had suffered a rear side tyres burst, reportedly due to over speeding.
According to police, the trailer crossed over to the side lane of on-coming traffic – leading to a collision with cars in the opposite direction.
Komaketch said the police team was yet to identify all the dead, indicating that they were still waiting for the relatives to show up at the Masaka Regional Referral hospital mortuary to help in the process.
But Ronald Mwesigye – one of the survivors currently admitted at the Masaka Hospital Emergency Ward narrated how he had boarded the taxi with two other family members from Kitagata-Kibanda in Sheema district, heading for Kampala. He identifies the victims as Darlington Mwesigye – his father and Kissa Mwesigye who he said died on the spot.
Dr Muhammad Nsubuga, the in-charge of the Accident Ward at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, revealed that they had received 14 causalities that included nine males, five females, and a two-year child who are still undergoing treatment to save their lives.
The admitted causalities, according to the hospital patients’ manifest are; Babirye Kembabazi, Darlington Mwesigwa, Robert Naume, Rinah Akankunda, Alex Ahimbisibwe, Enzo Mugume, Enock Katambuka, Christopher Mutumba, Winnie Nabajju, Isma Adam, Eva Tukunsave and Edgar Mugume .
Details will be published as they emerge as this is a developing story….
