16 perish in Pakwach accident
PAKWACH- At least 16 people were Sunday confirmed dead with several injured after a vehicle in which they were travelling overturned at Panyimur Hill in Panyimur Sub-county, Pakwach District.
Occupants of a Fuso truck, who were mainly traders were travelling from Ariwara in eastern DR Congo bordering Arua District and heading to Panyimur Market to buy fish.
The market is famous for traders dealing in all types of fish and traders travel from DRC on Sundays to transact the following day. Others come from as far as Masindi, Buliisa, Gulu and Lira districts to buy fish including the popular ‘Angara’.
According to police, the accident occurred after the driver of the Fuso truck that was carrying an unspecified number of people lost control just two kilometres to Panyimur Market.
The West Nile police spokesperson, Ms Josephine Angucia, confirmed the accident saying the deceased are mainly traders from Ariwara in DR Congo.
“The driver lost control of the vehicle as he was negotiating a sharp corner on a steep slope and the truck overturned killing the traders on board. Many of them were women who were travelling to Panyimur Market in Pakwach District. Survivors have been taken to Angal Hospital in Nebbi District,” Ms Angucia said. According to the Panyimur Sub-county chairperson, Mr Shabban Ofoi Kenobe, eyewitnesses worked hard to rescue some of the victims who were trapped in the wreckage.
“It is sad to see focused traders perish in such a nasty accident. Government must consider fixing some of the busy roads which generate more revenue to it by tarmacking them,” Mr Ofoi said.
He said Panyimur Market is strategically located and the road network must be improved.
Mr Amos Manano, a boda boda rider, said some people jumped off the truck but are nursing broken legs.
According to authorities in the area, the corner has become a death trap.
