15 die after Kampala-bound taxi rams into stationary truck in Mayuge
Residents at the scene of the accident. PHOTOS BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA
Fifteen people have died in a road accident in Mayuge District in eastern Uganda when a Kampala-bound taxi which they were travelling in lost control and rammed into a stationary sugarcane truck.
Three others were seriously hurt and rushed to Buluba hospital in critical condition.
The accident occurred Friday morning at Imanyiro village along Mayuge-Musita road when the taxi registration number UBD089A, carrying mostly traders from Namayingo and Busia districts, rammed into a lorry registration number UWP 616 that had parked on the roadside.
One of the eye witnesses, Mr Abdu Kiyuba told this reporter that the accident happened at around 5am.
“The taxi driver was speeding. I think he didn’t see the truck in front and ended up ramming into it. The driver of the taxi and his conductor are among the dead,” he said.
The police spokesman for Busoga East region, Mr James Mubi said that the deceased include 11 male passengers, three female passengers and a two-year-old child whose particulars were not readily available by the time of filing this story.
The wreckage of the commuter being towed from the accident scene. Courtesy photo
“The taxi had fifteen people on board and they all died on spot. The injured were those in a sugarcane truck,” he said.
Mr Mubi identified some of the deceased as Ibrahim Damare, Patrick Musubo, Micheal Oreye and Adenyi Agundiran. Others are Christine Mugere, Christine Were and Zaina Nabirye.
According to police, most of the deceased were residents of Namayingo and Busia districts.
A woman helps a distressed relative of one the victims of the accident. PHOTOS BY YAZID YOLIGIRA
The driver of the cane truck is reported to be on the run following the accident.
Police attributed the cause of the accident to recklessness by the driver of the truck who had left the vehicle on the road without reflectors or sign to warn other oncoming vehicles.
“Whereas there is an element of speeding by the taxi driver, the first person to blame is the driver of the cane truck who had parked it on the road at night without reflectors,” Mr Mubi said.
Bodies of the deceased were taken to Mayuge health centre III mortuary where their relatives had pitched camp by the time of filing this report.
Musita-Mayuge-Majanji road is among three roads currently being tarmacked by government with a big section of it already completed.
