Another Masaka road tragedy, traffic police officer among dead

Uganda’s road conditions, traffic rules and drivers indiscipline continued in the spotlight for another weekend as three people, including a senior traffic police officer, were killed in separate accidents at the same spot on Masaka road Sunday morning. Just two weeks back, over 20 were killed on the same road (click).

Sunday’s accidents, involving six vehicles, occurred at Mukoko, 15 km on  Masaka-Kampala highway. Two of the nine injured were foreign nationals  from America and Japan. They were transferred to the International Hospital Kampala upon establishing contact with their respective Embassies.

Police confirmed the first incident involved two buses; a Jaguar Bus Co Isuzu bus UAT 728F that was heading to Mbarara from Kampala and a Volcano Bus Company Hyundai RAD 793D .

“The two buses narrowly avoided a head on collision and brushed against each other, forcing the Volcano bus to swerve off the road into the nearby bushes, while the Jaguar bus, swerved and parked on the shoulder of the road, leaving part of its rear side into the road space,” Police said.

“This led to a chain reaction collision after a Blue, Mercedes Benz, semi trailer, under Reg. no. UAV 384G and a FUSO Lorry, white in color, under Reg. no. UAV 860B, both from the Kampala side, rammed into the buses.”

Right about now – another terrible accident on Masaka road….couple of trucks involved!!! pic.twitter.com/simOb3shUM

— Micah X/Malcolm X (@DennisAdel) July 17, 2016

The second incident, even more tragic, involving two additional vehicles minutes later when a Fuso truck  UAT 262 transporting cement to Mbarara ploughed the back of the Jaguar bus, instantly killing, a Rwandan passenger Johnson Gatete and thereafter knocked dead the OC Traffic Kalungu District, IP Deogratius Kweyamba.

Kweyamba, who was on duty at Lukaya Police Station, Kalungu District, had responded to the first traffic incident.

“The Officer was dragged a distance of 56 metres by the lorry, and was again run over by an approaching vehicle from Masaka, a Nissan Hard body, silver in color, under Reg. no. UAD 712 Z. A passenger in the FUSO lorry, who was identified as Byamukama Andrew, a 40 year old, male adult from Mbarara, died during the accident,” Police said.

“The police would like to urge all motorists and road users to abide by the traffic rules, avoid over speeding and keep safe distances at all times, especially during poor weather conditions. For instance, the chain reaction collision could have been avoided, if the drivers drove at speed limits that suited the foggy conditions or completely pulled off the road and waited for the fog to clear, to ensure their safety,” Police added.

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editor@independent.co.ug