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Truck runs over ‘imbalu’ dancers

WRECK: Volunteers and police try to remove trapped bodies from a trailer yesterday.

WRECK: Volunteers and police try to remove trapped bodies from a trailer yesterday. PHOTO BY PAULINE KAIRU 

By Mudangha Kolyangha  (email the author)
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Posted  Thursday, September 9  2010 at  00:00

Three people were yesterday knocked dead by a speeding truck that rammed into an ‘Imbalu’ dance ceremony on the Sironko-Kapchorwa highway. Imbalu is a traditional dance that precedes a circumcision ceremony.

The accident took place at Mpogo, just 12km from Mbale Town at around 8.30pm.
Police identified the dead as Ben Masaba, William Ochakuni and Justus Wamandu. They were all aged 18.

The regional police commander, Mr Joel Aguma, said other dancers sustained serious injuries and were taken to Mbale Hospital for treatment. According to Mr Aguma, the mob turned violent and set the vehicle ablaze.

Mr Aguma urged the cultural leaders across the Mt. Elgon region to educate their subjects about road usage, especially during this season. “People have carelessly lost their lives because of not adhering to traffic rules,” Mr Aguma said.