Joseph Ayolo, Moroto – On Tuesday, around 5 pm, three gun salutes were fired into the air, escorting the vibrant voice of the lion of Karamoja, Mr. Simon Peter Aleper, known as ASPRO.
Mr. Aleper died last Tuesday on Iganga-Mbale road in a suspected road accident.
However, this reporter visited the place where the incident took place, but many questions remain unanswered.
Today, on our way to Kampala, we stopped in Bukoona at the scene of the accident that killed Aspro. Local people directed us to the location. It had these humps. The broken glass at the scene indicates the presence of humps, meaning Aspro had slowed down.
Besides, this was the first hump when coming from the Mbale side. There are three humps when coming from the Iganga side. That means any car coming from Iganga had to pass over three humps before reaching where Aspro was, so it would have also slowed down.
Even if some people say that the driver of the truck or car was asleep, the hump should have woken him up, causing him to lose control and hit Aspro. If so, he should have woken up from the first hump, which is 400 meters from the scene.
Even a driver who wakes up after hitting a hump would try to steer away from the center of the road and not allow the vehicle to go to the opposite side.
This reporter was directed by the public to where the incident took place, but many questions that the police’s initial report does not answer. It is vague and clumsy, and this many need clear, professional, and convincing answers.
It should be noted that the late Mr. Aleper had no political wrangles or feuds with anyone. He was in good working terms with Hon. Francis Adome, the current Member of Parliament for Moroto Municipality, where the late Mr. Aleper represented in 2011.
He had no hopes of contesting for an MP seat anywhere. Even in Bokora, he used to tell this reporter that he was content with the CEC.
This publication learned that the lion of Karamoja could have met his death over mineral investments since he had been highly involved in negotiating deals between investors and local communities. He was also protecting the interests of the government.
Where the late died had many humps, and one can wonder how a car could knock someone with such heavy impact where there are road humps.
Besides, even if there are no CCTV cameras in the area, it is a trading center with people. Even at 1 am, there could still be people out drinking. Even if everyone was asleep, they could have heard the impact of the accident.
Another thing observed by this reporter is that the scene is 6 km from Nakalama, where the Iganga-Mbale junction branches and starts. The area has CCTV cameras. Can’t the police track cars that passed at that time?
There is also a murram road junction to the right that goes behind the red-roofed mosque building. So, if it was a local truck within Bukoona which entered the road from that junction, a rigorous local inquiry can locate it.
Technology can also locate which phone numbers were in or near the scene of the accident at the time, including those of the people in the accident truck. These and many other questions remain unanswered.
At the scene, there were many broken pieces of glass. The presence of humps means the late had slowed down.
Besides, this was the first hump when coming from the Mbale side. There are three humps when coming from the Iganga side. That means any car coming from Iganga had to pass over three humps before reaching where the late Mr. Aleper was. So, it would have also slowed down.
Even if some people say that the driver of the truck or car was asleep, the hump should have woken him up, causing him to lose control and hit Aspro. If so, he should have woken up from the first hump, which is 400 meters from the scene.
Even a driver who wakes up after hitting a hump would try to steer away from the center of the road and not allow the vehicle to go to the opposite side.
But all in all, the gallant voice of Karamoja will not be forgotten, and the region is wondering who will replace him.
During his time of leadership, the late Mr. Aleper mobilized all the tribes living in Moroto Municipality to register their associations where they were supported.
He was one person who could not look at things going wrong and pretend to be happy with them.
May his soul rest in peace.
