Driver sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for knocking five children dead

Sembabule, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Sembabule Grade One Magistrates court has sentenced a taxi driver to four years in prison for knocking five children dead.

Musa Amiisi, a resident of Bweera in Kasese district, was convicted on Friday of reckless driving, causing a motor accident that led to death and inflicting bodily injuries.

Prosecution led by Jacqueline Bbako told the court that on July 16th while driving a Toyota Wish registration number UBG 517L, on Sembabule-Gomba road, Amiisi ran over eight pupils aged between 8 to 11 years, as they returned from attending the Catechism classes at St Gongaza Catholic Parish in Sembabule town council.

According to the prosecution, five of the children died instantly while three survived with serious injuries.

Court heard that Amiisi was overspeeding and not mindful of other road users, hence ramming into the pupils who were walking on the roadside.

In his ruling, the Sembabule Grade One Magistrate Maurice Oburu considered the statement of the Sembabule district traffic officer who arrested Amiisi.

According to police, the accident was caused by overspeeding. Police said that Amiisi lost control of the car before it veered off the road’s driving section and crossed into the pedestrian lane.

Amiisi pleaded with the court requesting to be pardoned, saying that he did not intend to knock the pupils. His request was rejected by Oburu.

Damiano Kateregga, a parent to one of the accident victims argued that they are not contented with the four-year prison sentence granted to the convict, observing that the court issued a lenient sentence as compared to the many fatalities caused.

He says that they are going to engage with the State Attorney about the possibility of allowing the parents to file a civil suit against the convict and the car owner, such that the victims can be compensated.

*****

URN