On Sunday, January 21, 2024, tragedy struck as a volunteer health worker lost his life in a motorcycle accident in Rukungiri. The incident occurred in the early hours, as 26-year-old Austin Abaho, a dedicated volunteer at Nyakibale Hospital and resident of Kebisoni Village, was heading home.
The Kigezi region police spokesperson, Elly Maate, provided details, stating that Abaho left Nyakibale Hospital around 01:25 am and was riding towards his place of residence. As he approached a location called Katogo, he encountered a pothole, leading to the loss of control over his motorcycle. The vehicle collided with a metallic side road guard, causing Abaho to fall, and tragically, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Police promptly responded to the incident, visiting and documenting the accident scene. Abaho’s body was then transported to Nyakibale Hospital Mortuary for postmortem examination, while the motorcycle involved was held at Cps Rukungiri pending an Inspection of Vehicles (IOV) examination.
Elly Maate informed the media in a brief statement that investigations into the accident are ongoing, emphasizing the need to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
This unfortunate incident coincides with a series of demonstrations led by opposition leaders in Uganda, highlighting the deteriorating condition of the country’s roads. Activists participating in these demonstrations expressed their dissatisfaction with the government’s perceived failure to improve road infrastructure by symbolically planting bananas in the potholed roads, particularly in metro-Kampala areas.
