NTV journalist, Miss tourism perish in road accident

Police towing the wreckage of the car in which an NTV journalist and Miss tourism northern region died after they were involved in an accident along Masaka-Mbarara Highway.

NTV journalist Resty Namawejje, Miss Tourism Northern, Norah Atim and Barbara Nakiwolo, one of last year's miss tourism finalists have been killed in a motor accident at Nakirere, Mpigi district on Masaka-Mbarara highway.
Namawejje, a producer with NTV and Atim, 21, third-year Information Communication Technology student at Makerere University died on spot on Saturday after the driver of the car they were travelling in with a group of other journalists lost control and overturned.

Nakiwolo who had been seriously injured died as she was being taken to Mulago National Referral Hospital.

One of the survivor’s, Mr Lawrence Ogwal, a journalist with Daily Monitor, earlier on said they were eight occupants in the car, a Land cruiser registration number UAN 690B travelling to Mbarara district to cover Miss Tourism Ankole.
“The car we were travelling in lost control and overturned when the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle. Two of my colleagues died on spot while the others (five) survived with serious injuries. They have been rushed to Mulago hospital for medical attention. I am the only one who survived without any injury,” said Mr Ogwal.

Police attributed the cause of the accident to over speeding.
According to the Katonga police regional spokesperson, Mr Philip Mukasa, the driver of the car lost control and swerved into Nsimbe Swamp near Nakirere Center, Mpigi district.
Police identified the injured as Mr Ivan Seruma, Ms Kyomuhendo Julian who works with ABS TV, Mr David Gumusiriza, a camera man at NTV and a one Ms Betty Nyachwo who is currently on life support.
Mr Mukasa added that the bodies of the deceased are still at Mpigi health Center III and police is preparing to transfer them to Mulago National Referral Hospital.

The Executive Director Uganda tourism board, Mr Steven Asiimwe said; "This is a tragic incident for the tourism industry and country at large, the deceased ladies were going to officiate a miss tourism function in Mbarara and later in Kabarole."

This comes barely two days after another accident occurred at Katende in Mpigi district on Masaka Road, (Road accident claims three, scores injured) leaving three people dead and over 30 seriously injured.