Mpigi accident: Death toll rises to 21
Wreckages of the taxi and a trailer at the accident scene. Photo by Sadat Mbogo
Four more people have died following a motor accident at Kampiringisa village, Kamengo Sub-county in Mpigi District on the Kampala-Masaka highway, raising the death toll to 21.
Seventeen people had been confirmed dead by Mpigi district police commander Ahmed Kimera Sseguya and more than 30 critically injured in the nasty accident that occurred Saturday evening.
On Sunday morning, Deputy Police spokesperson Ms Polly Namaye said four more people had died after they were admitted to Gombe Hospital with serious injuries.
“As the Police goes through the process of postmortem and identification, two of the deceased persons have been identified as Sunday Kizito, a resident of Kyengera, who was the driver of taxi reg. UAX 781N towing the route from Kampala to Kayebwa stage and Makerere University student Shakaru Kigozi , 19, resident of Bwama,” Ms Namaye said.
Also among the dead that police has so far identified are; Ssenfuka Jumah, Ssalongo Dauda, a resident of Kamengo and a one only identified as Ssemwanga.
According to Ms Namaye, the particulars of the deceased and the injured are still scanty, as the medical and Police teams at Mulago National Referral Hospital attend to the emergency.
“A follow up detailed report shall be issued as soon as more information is obtained about the victims. The police calls for calm and patience and assures the public that the hospital staff and the Police officers are working around the clock to save more lives, and to keep the public updated. The Police also caution the general public against recklessness on the road. Passengers and drivers must exercise caution and ensure that driving is in accordance with the traffic guidelines so as promote road safety,” she added.
According to police, the accident occurred at around 6pm on Saturday and involved four cars; two commuter taxi vehicles, a Noah and a cargo trailer.
The first taxi registration number UAX 781N was from a burial in Masaka and another from registration number UAN 443P Kayabwe.
The accident was caused by a speeding Noah vehicle registration number UAS 567X that was trying to overtake the two commuter taxis, finding a trailer registration number KBN290 whose driver tried to dodge but lost control, got detached and fell on a taxi.
"The accident was caused by recklessness by the driver of a Noah vehicle," Mr Kimera said.
The injured were rushed to different hospitals including Nkozi, Gombe and Mulago Hospitals.
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