Nine dead, 12 injured in Lwengo road crash

Lwengo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 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 registration RAF 168S/RL 1426, and passenger taxi registration number UBJ 084N, which occurred at the Kagganda junction in Kinoni town council, Lwengo district.

According to eyewitnesses, the trailer truck which was moving towards Mbarara lost control before it hit a fully loaded passenger taxi, which overturned and also rammed into another private car registration number UAP 126A Toyata Mark II which was traveling towards Masaka.

Richard Komakech, the Greater Masaka Regional Traffic Police Commander has blamed the accident to over speeding by the trailer driver who he said failed to control the truck after suffering a tyre burst.

According to him, the trailer lost control and crossed over to the lane of on-coming vehicles before colliding with cars in the opposite direction. Komakech says the police team is yet to identify all the dead, indicating that they are still waiting for the relatives to show up at the Masaka Regional Referral hospital mortuary to help police in the process.

But Ronald Mwesigye, one of the survivors currently admitted at the Masaka Hospital Emergency Ward says he had boarded the taxi with two other family members from Kitagata-Kibanda in Sheema district and they were headed for Kampala. He identifies the victims as Darlington Mwesigye- his father and Kissa Mwesigye who he says died on spot.

Dr. Muhammad Nsubuga, the in-charge of the accident ward at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital reveals that they 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.

******

URN