One dead, six injured after truck overturns in Kitgum

One person died while three others sustained injuries after a tipper truck carrying a local football team overturned on Sunday afternoon along Kitgum Matidi-Lagoro road in Kitgum District.

The tipper truck registration number UAR 160M was carrying footballers from Kitgum Matidi Sub County on their way for the Independence Cup Football tournament in Lagoro Sub County organized by Lillian Aber, the National Youth Council Chairperson.

Police have identified the deceased as Richard Obonyo, one of the players and a resident of Bobi B village, Ibakara parish in Kitgum Matidi Sub County. The injured are Hassan Ocira, Daniel Oboni, Ronald Atube, David Guma, Simon Toolit and Daniel Ochanand Kizito Ocakacon. They are hospitalised at St Joseph Hospital Kitgum and Kitgum General Hospital.

A police officer, who didn’t want to be named since she isn’t the Police spokesperson, said Obonyo died on spot after the truck fell on him.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the tipper truck slipped off the marram road following a heavy down pour that left it slippery,” he said.

The truck has since been towed to Kitgum Central Police Station pending inspection. The truck driver, Mr Francis Tokura is currently under police detention as investigations continue. Mr George Canopwoya, an eye witness told this reporter that the truck was carrying about 30 people comprising of players and supporters.
“I was supposed to go with them but I reached when the truck was already full,” he said.

In August this year, seven traders died while three others escaped with injuries when a Fuso lorry registration number UAZ 314Z they were travelling in, overturned at Akworo village in Labongo Amida Sub County about seven kilometers from Kitgum Municipality.

Following the incident, the Kitgum Resident District Commissioner ordered truck drivers to desist from overloading passengers in open trucks to avoid such incidents.