One person missing after truck plunges into Kaliro swamp

The vehicle sunk into the water at Saaka Swamp along Kaliro-Pallisa road. PHOTO BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA

What you need to know:

  • According to residents, six people have drowned in the same river over the past two months. However, Daily Monitor could not independently verify the claim.

One person is still missing after a truck that was carrying beverages from Soroti to Kaliro District plunged into a swamp at the collapsed Saaka Bridge along Kaliro-Pallisa road.

The bridge, which joins Kaliro to Pallisa District, is said to have collapsed three months ago after culverts were washed away by the running water.

According to residents, the truck belonging to Haraka Juice Company plunged into the swamp Thursday evening at about 10pm. It is reported that the driver of the truck was not aware of the broken bridge.

Mr Anthony Batuuli, the LC1 Chairperson Saaka village, said after falling into the stream, the truck was swept away for about 300 metres by the running water.

"The truck had a driver and his turn man on board, but as the vehicle rolled into the stream, the driver managed to escape, but his colleague is yet to be seen,” he said.

Mr Joseph Ofundembozi, an employee of Haraka Juice Company, has identified the missing colleague as Fred Byamukama.

Police officers from Kaliro Police Station together with the locals have mounted a search in the river banks but haven’t managed to find Byamukama dead or alive.

According to residents, six people have drowned in the same river over the past two months. However, Daily Monitor could not independently verify the claim.