One pupil killed, 70 others injured in Kabale accident

It is reported that the lorry, in which the pupils were travelling in, developed a mechanical problem and overturned near the school premises.

Kabale

A Primary Six pupil died and 70 others were seriously injured when a lorry they were travelling in developed a mechanical problem and overturned a few metres to the school premises.

The pupils of Home Care Primary School Kabale, had gone to Lake Bunyonyi to celebrate the school’s good performance in the recently released PLE results. The deceased is Mark Niwahereza, 13. The pupils, who were the first batch of the 250 who attended the party, arrived at the school by 8:30pm.

Sixty of the injured are currently admitted to Kabale Referral Hospital while 10 are admitted to Rugarama Missionary Hospital in Kabale Town. The hospital director, Dr Placid Mihayo, said majority of the victims have broken limbs but are out of danger.

When Daily Monitor visited the hospital, pupils were being registered for x-ray to detect the gravity of their injuries while a postmortem of the deceased was being arranged.

However, Kabale Resident District Commissioner Cox Nyakairu dismissed the claims that the pupils were from a party. He said there are reports that they have been taking holiday coaching at Lake Bunyonyi after being harassed by district authorities from operating in their usual premises.

“We have received information that the injured pupils have been taking holiday coaching in one of the premises on Lake Bunyonyi for two weeks. This will be fully investigated and appropriate action shall be taken on the school owners if it is true,” Mr Nyakairu said.

Denial
However, the school director, Mr Henry Magezi, denied the allegations saying: “This was a victory party, we invited continuing pupils to celebrate together with those who passed the exams.”

Mr Nyakairu said the owners will also be required to explain why they transported pupils in a lorry knowing that government banned the means. The officer in-charge of traffic police at Kabale Police Station, Mr Anthony Kasolo, said police are currently hunting for the driver and the owner of the ill-fated truck so that they can be charged.

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