Late on Sunday night, tragedy struck on the Arua-Koboko road, resulting in a devastating head-on collision between a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Harrier. The accident, occurring around 7:30 pm at Manibe Ward, Ayivu Division, Arua City, left two individuals dead and four others injured.
One of the deceased, identified as Jamal Abdul Maliki, served as a senior clinical officer within the Koboko District Local Government. The identity of the second victim, the driver of one of the vehicles involved, remained unknown as of Monday morning.
According to Ms. Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, preliminary investigations suggest that the Toyota Harrier, traveling from Koboko, lost control and collided with the Toyota Corolla from Arua City. The primary cause, she stated, appeared to be the driver’s carelessness and inconsiderate use of the motor vehicle, resulting in a tragic accident.
The injured individuals were promptly transported to the Arua Regional Referral Hospital for medical treatment. Mambo Ashiraf, the Koboko District Chairperson, lamented the loss of Jamal Abdul Malik, describing him as a valuable member of the community and a dedicated student at the Islamic University in Uganda-Arua Campus.
Jamal, who had previously served at the Ombokodo Health Centre III in Lobule sub-county, was returning from weekend lectures in Arua at the time of the accident.
Statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics reveal alarming figures regarding road accidents, with 18 deaths recorded per 100 crashes. The Uganda Police Force Crime and Traffic Road Safety Report for 2023 paints a grim picture, documenting an average of 50 road crashes daily, with 17% resulting in fatalities and 74% causing serious injuries.
Moreover, the recently released 2023 police and traffic accident report indicates a troubling 35% increase in road crashes compared to the previous year. These statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and greater public awareness to prevent further loss of life on Uganda’s roads.
