The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government, led by President Yoweri Museveni, has issued an apology to the family of a 71-year-old man who lost his life in an accident at the collapsed section of the Kabale-Kisoro road in Rubanda district. The road section collapsed on May 4, 2023, due to heavy mudslides. This road serves as a crucial link between Uganda, the Rwanda border at Chanika, and the DR Congo border at Bunagana.
Initially, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) had taken immediate action to repair the road, with the promise of completing the work within three weeks. However, work came to a halt after just one week, workers left the site, and equipment was removed. The remaining part of the road, still open for use, posed a significant safety risk to road users, including pedestrians, school children, and livestock.
Despite local outcry and appeals to UNRA to resume repairs, no positive action was taken. However, tragedy struck on Sunday, September 24, 2023, when Thomas Bukuru, a resident of Shebeya village, Shebeya parish, Hamurwa sub-county, Rubanda district, was fatally injured while returning home from Mass at Hamurwa Catholic church. He was struck by large stones and a trailer. The accident occurred when the trailer registration number RAF 5291/ RL 3794, traveling from Kisoro to Kabale, met another speeding vehicle heading in the opposite direction.
In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, the trailer swerved off the road, striking Bukuru causing him to roll down with the debris from the collapsed road. He lost his life on the spot. During Bukuru’s burial on Tuesday, local leaders and residents, including Teddy Tumwesigye, the Hamurwa town council LC3 Chairperson, and Stanislaus Nyaraare, the Hamurwa town sub-county LC3 Chairman, voiced their protests and accused UNRA of neglecting the road works despite numerous appeals.
In response to the outcry, Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, the State Minister of Finance, issued an apology on behalf of President Museveni to the bereaved family. He blamed the tragedy on the delays by the government agency in repairing the collapsed part of the road.
Musasizi also handed over compensation amounting to Shillings 5 million to the bereaved family as a government condolence gesture to assist with funeral expenses. Additionally, he disclosed that the completion of the road requires Shillings 3.5 billion and that President Museveni has directed the Finance Ministry to explore means of mobilizing the necessary funds.
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