A deadly accident has struck Kyankwanzi District, claiming the life of a 16 year old student from St Paul Kasooro Secondary School and leaving over 100 others injured. The tragic incident occurred when a lorry carrying approximately 200 students overturned along the road in Kasooro Village, Kikandwa Sub County.
The victim, identified as James Murarira, lost his life in the aftermath of the accident. The ill-fated Fuso truck, bearing Registration Number UBK900A, was en route to Butemba College, Butemba Town Council, where the students were scheduled to participate in the 2024 post-primary school football contest.
Eyewitnesses reported that the driver of the truck, identified as Samuel Mitala, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn multiple times. Justus Kakiga Nayisindi, one of the survivors, recounted the harrowing experience, attributing the accident to the driver’s excessive speed. He expressed gratitude for surviving but expressed concern for the fate of their injured classmates.
Transporting students in lorries and open trucks has been prohibited by the government since September 2000, following a series of tragic road accidents. However, despite this ban, such incidents continue to occur, posing grave risks to the lives of students and passengers.
Wamala Regional Police Spokesperson, Ms. Racheal Kawala, confirmed that the traffic team in Kyankwanzi was actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. She assured the public that further details would be provided once the investigative team had compiled a comprehensive report on the incident.
The accident serves as a dark reminder of the importance of road safety regulations and the need for strict enforcement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As the community mourns the loss of one young life and prays for the swift recovery of the injured, authorities are urged to take decisive action to ensure the safety of all road users, especially students and vulnerable passengers.
