At least four individuals sustained serious injuries when a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) registered vehicle and a government ambulance collided with a private vehicle that recklessly joined the highway in a road accident at Kakooge in Nakasongola on Friday. The injured, identified as Godfrey Kiggundu, Damascus Ssemakadde, Wilson Ssejjengo, and Tadeo Muhumuza, were promptly rushed to Nakasongola Health Center IV for treatment.
According to a statement released by Sam Twiineamazima, the Public Relations Officer for the Savannah region, the accident occurred on Friday, January 05, 2024, at approximately 2:20 pm at Kakooge town along the Kampala-Gulu highway. The vehicles involved include registration number H4DF 1979, a Toyota Landcruiser (single cabin, army green), driven by an unidentified driver; UG 5630M, a white ambulance driven by Barnard Dunia, 28, a resident of Arua City; and UBN 593S, a white Subaru Legacy driven by an individual identified as Twaha, a resident of Kakooge Town Council. The accident also involved a red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle (registration number UFP 382G) driven by Damascus Ssemakadde, 28, a resident of Kakooge town council.
Twiineamazima explained that the UPDF vehicle and ambulance were traveling from Gulu towards Kampala when, at Kakooge, a Subaru vehicle joined the highway without exercising due care. The army vehicle, ahead of the Subaru, collided with it, causing an overturn and injuries to the occupants. The ambulance, following closely behind, veered to the right, subsequently hitting a boda boda rider and a Mobile Money vendor, causing serious injuries and damaging the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) offices.
While a video circulating on social media raised concerns about the possibility of a fire due to the army vehicle emitting smoke, Twiineamazima confirmed that no fatalities occurred. All vehicles involved in the accident were towed to Kakooge police station for further investigation.
