15 people rescued from cargo cabin
The passengers who were found locked in the cabin cargo. Photo by Sadat Mbogo
What you need to know:
Operation Fika Salaama was launched two months ago to crack on errant drivers.
The head of enforcement at UNRA, Mr John Bosco Ssejjemba, said 1,900 people have been arrested so far since the launch of operation Fika Salaama two months ago.
KALUNGU. Police in Kalungu District are holding a truck driver who locked up 15 passengers in the cargo cabin.
Uganda Police Force tweeted on Sunday evening: "We suspect human trafficking, the matter is under investigation. It was a sad state as we found passengers sweating profusely. We immediately gave them first aid and water to prevent dehydration".
Mr Wilfred Byamugisha, the Kalungu District traffic officer told Daily Monitor on Sunday that the suspect was intercepted on Saturday in Lukaya Town at the fifth check point on the Kampala-Masaka highway.
"At first, we suspected fire arms on board ,but when we opened the cargo cabin, we found several people seated inside and sweating profusely ," he said.
The suspect is being detained at Lukaya Police Station pending further investigations on charges of human trafficking, breach of operator's license and interfering with safe driving.
"We are yet to get clear information on trafficking, but he (suspect) is in safe custody."
"Our intelligence officers who were deployed in different trading centers spotted a blue “delivery” truck registration number UAT 931K, travelling at high speed. In the front seats of the truck were the driver and three other people. They refused to answer our questions related to what they were transporting and refused to open the truck’s cabin. When we forced them to open, we found there people. But the driver told us he was taking them to Masaka for burial. We are yet to find out the truth of the matter," he said.
The head of enforcement at Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), Mr John Bosco Ssejjemba, said 1,900 people have been arrested so far since the launch of operation Fika Salaama two months ago.
Fika Salaama is implemented by police in partnership with UNRA among other road safety bodies to reduce road carnage on Uganda’s highways.
He said: "All culprits will appear in court to face the law so as they get discipline when using the road. We have collectively reduced the rate of road carnage especially on Masaka road where, in the last five years, accidents were rampant."
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