Mulago intern doctor knocks toddler dead
The officer in charge of traffic at Kawempe Police Station, Daniel Chemonges inspects a house destroyed by the vehicle which the intern doctor was driving. Photo by Joseph Kato
What you need to know:
- The Akena family has denied police claims that Latim is their relative.
- Lukwata was a baby class pupil at Kitende Valley Nursery and Primary School who was living with her father Mr Andrew Begunda.
KAMPALA. Kawempe Police Division has arrested a Mulago Hospital intern doctor for knocking dead a three-year-old at Kilokole Zone, in Kawempe in the early hours of Monday morning.
Ivan Latim knocked dead Grace Lukwata when his vehicle veered off the road and rammed into a house.
According to a statement at Kawempe Police Station traffic office which was shown to the media, Dr Latim stated that he was coming from a drink up.
“…I was coming from a drink up with my fellow doctors. I reach home and realised I had left my house keys with a friend. I went back to pick the keys and when I returned, I tried to negotiate a corner to enter my gate but unfortunately I rammed into a house,” reads in part, the statement.
Mr Paul Kangave, Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, said they suspect the cause of the accident to be drunk-driving since the alcohol content in his body was 127.8 per cent.
The car which was being driven by the intern doctor at the time of the accident. Photo by Joseph Kato
“We also found alcohol bottles in his car. We suspect this accident was as a result of drunk-driving. He claims he is a cousin brother to the late Kenneth Akena. We have him in our cells,” Mr Kangave said.
Ms Lilian Mukabalanga, a resident of Kilokole Zone, said they heard a vehicle being driven at breakneck speed at around 5:15am and after a few seconds they had it banging a house.
“We heard people crying for help and we got out. We found when the car had penetrated through the house. The child and its father were groaning under the car tyres,” Ms Mukabalanga said.
Lukwata was a baby class pupil at Kitende Valley Nursery and Primary School who was living with her father Mr Andrew Begunda. By press time the deceased had been taken to Kibinge in Masaka District for burial while Mr Begunda was in a critical condition at Kawempe Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Akena family has denied police claims that Latim is their relative. Mr Paul Nyeko and Mr Jordan Watmon all brothers to late Akena said they don’t have any relative by the names Ivan Latim.
