Accident victim accuses police of case cover-up
Ms Robinah Betungura and her husband Mr Milton Betungura at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital in Ishaka Bushenyi where she is admitted. PHOTO BY Zadock Amanyisa.
What you need to know:
The woman whose left leg has been amputated as a result of the accident claims police has mishandled the investigations that could lead her to be compensated.
Bushenyi
A woman who lost a leg in a road accident in Bushenyi Town last week has accused the district traffic police for mishandling investigations into the matter.
Ms Robinah Betungura’s leg was shattered by a lorry at Katungu-Nyaruzinga junction on July 5. Her left leg has been amputated.
Eyewitnesses say at around 10am a flagman who was controlling traffic at the junction signalled for the truck to go. But a boda boda rider who was carrying Ms Betungura disregarded the flagman’s signal and rammed into the truck.
Upon impact, Ms Betungura fell off and slid under the truck, which shattered her leg.
Witnesses further said the cyclist made a U-turn and sped away, adding that the lorry driver also did not stop. Ms Betungura was taken to Kampala International University (KIU) Teaching Hospital in Ishaka Town for treatment.
The Bushenyi district traffic officer, Mr Wilfred Byamugisha, said after the accident he rushed to the scene and interrogated some witnesses who told him the story. “I reached the scene and the witnesses gave me the whole story saying the cyclist was in the wrong and is the one that caused the accident after failing to obey the deployed flagman at work,” Mr Byamugisha said.
Mr Byamugisha stated in the case file that the rider of the motorcycle knocked the lorry and fled.
However, the victim’s husband, Mr Milton Betungura, is demanding compensation for his wife and prosecution of both the boda boda rider and lorry driver. He said the lorry that crashed his wife’s leg was seen being repaired in Bushenyi Town instead of being at the police station for inspection.
“Such a way of treating the matter showed weakness of the police. The vehicle should have been kept at the police station for inspection before being repaired. The police have mishandled the file and it is unfair. They should at least consider the victim,” Mr Betungura told Saturday Monitor on Tuesday.
Mr Betungura has petitioned the Resident State Attorney, Resident District Commissioner, Regional Internal Security Officer and Regional Traffic Officer for Greater Bushenyi. He says the traffic police should have manned such a busy junction, adding that police mishandling of the matter may deny him the opportunity to open a civil case for compensation for his wife.
