KAMPALA – Serere County, Member of Parliament, Hon. Patrick Okabe died on Monday morning in a motor accident, along Mbale -Tirinyi Highway, Police confirmed.
Police said in a statement that the legislator had died on the spot, while his wife Christine Okabe died moments later on the way to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
“The territorial police at Budaka has today, December 19, 2022 at around 7:00am, registered a fatal accident, at Naboa Town Council, along the Mbale – Tirinyi Road, involving motor vehicle Reg. No. UBK 995F, a Toyota Land Cruiser and Isuzu box body Reg No. KCX 071K, killing on spot, the occupant in the Land Cruiser, identified as Hon Okabe Patrick – the Member of Parliament, Serere Constituency, while his wife Christine Okabe died on the way to Hospital.
“The Driver only identified as Jacob remains in critical condition at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital,” noted ASP Faridah Nampiima – the spokesperson, Traffic and Road Safety Directorate, in a statement.
She attributed the cause of accident to driver of the Isuzu box body, who she asserted, was speeding, drifting from his side, leading to a head-on Collision with the Land Cruiser that was heading to Iganga. She added that the driver of the Fuso box body had since taken off after causing the accident.
The late Okabe is also the founder of Faith FM, a Christian radio in Mbale city, and Rhema High school in Soroti.
Joel Namisi, a junior pastor in Faith Ministries, which was started by Okabe told journalists that the victims’ bodies were still lying at Mbale Hospital mortuary awaiting for a post mortem as burial arrangement were underway.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa eulogized the MP as a true voice of reason, an author, a passionate believer in God and peace maker.
“Extremely sad to comprehend the passing on of Hon. Patrick Okabe, MP Serere County. A true voice of reason, an author, a passionate believer in the Almighty and Peace Maker. Hon. Okabe has died at a time when we needed him most! Condolences to the family,” tweeted Deputy Speaker, Tayebwa.
Relatedly, another accident but along the Kampala – Masaka Highway claimed the lives of four siblings on Sunday.
The accident at Kayabwe involved a Toyota Fielder, Reg No. UBL 270S in which the four siblings were travelling hit a hump, ramming into an on-coming Global Company, Isuzu bus Reg No. UAW 561P, which was heading towards Masaka. The four siblings died on the spot, according to Police, cautioning road users to observe discipline.
But as Police calls on road users to exhibit exemplary discipline, most of the country’s road infrastructure need urgent improvement, especially widening.
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal sitting in Mbale city, on Friday threw out of Parliament the Agule County MP, Polycap Ogwari, over lack of minimum academic qualifications.
Ogwari, who had won in the 2021 General Election with 7,190 votes against his main rival, David Ochwa-NRM’s 6,908, contested as an independent.
But Ochwa petitioned the High Court seeking nullification of the election, citing voter bribery, lack of academic qualification as well as intimidation of voters.
“Court do hereby orders for fresh elections on the ground that Ogwari lacks the minimum qualification of at least Advanced Level certificate or its equivalent,” Justice Moses Kawumi Kazibwe ruled last Friday, as hundreds of the petitioners supporters kicked off wild jubilations.
