A motorcycle accident along the Mukono-Kayunga road claimed the life of a 30-year-old Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, Lt Cpl Kundo Obedi. The collision, which occurred at Mpoma Satellite station, also left two passengers on the motorcycle seriously injured. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, confirmed the incident, identifying the soldier as a student at Uganda Military Engineering College (UMEC) in Lugazi town, Buikwe District.
According to Mr Onyango, the accident took place when the soldier, riding with two passengers, collided with a Toyota Gaia driven by an Egyptian national, Abdel Muhassen Kamal. Tragically, Lt Cpl Kundo Obedi succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the accident, while the two passengers sustained serious injuries.
Investigations revealed that the collision occurred as the soldier attempted to overtake two other vehicles, highlighting the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of road safety. Following the incident, the injured passengers were promptly rushed to Kawolo and Naggalama hospitals for treatment, while the soldier’s body was transported to Bombo military hospital. Additionally, the vehicles involved were towed to the Mukono police yard for further examination.
Mr Onyango urged road users to exercise caution and respect traffic regulations to prevent such tragic accidents. His warning comes in the wake of alarming statistics from the traffic accident report as of July 2023, which recorded a total of 432 crashes. Among these, 97 cases were fatal, resulting in 202 serious injuries and 133 minor incidents.
Of particular concern were the fatalities involving motorcycles, with 42 individuals losing their lives, including 13 passengers and 29 riders. Additionally, 40 pedestrians were among the casualties, underscoring the need for increased road safety measures and awareness campaigns to reduce the frequency of accidents and prevent further loss of life.
