Police name victims as 10 Congolese refugees killed in Rubanda road crash
Officials at Kabale Hospital on November 30, 2024, documenting details of some of the injured passengers in the aftermath of a November 29 road crash. PHOTO/ROBERT MUHEREZA
What you need to know:
- The injured passengers admitted at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital include more than 10 children.
Police in southwestern Uganda have identified 30 Congolese refugees who were injured when a taxi they were travelling in overturned in Kamukirirwa Village, Ruganda Town Council in Rubanda District, killing at least ten of their colleagues.
Eight passengers were killed on spot during the incident along the Kisoro-Rubanda-Kabale Road while the rest died at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital following the Friday night road crash in the hilly district.
Kigezi region police spokesperson Elly Maate said "the victims were Congolese refugee escapees who always travel in the night as they return to their respective settlement camps in Uganda’s Kamwenge and Kyegegwa districts."
“It’s alleged that the taxi failed to brake, hence failure to negotiate a sharp corner and fell approximately 100 meters off the road,” Maate told journalists on Saturday.
According to him, taxi driver Charles Isabirye died on spot and the other deceased passengers include yet to be identified 2 male adults, 3 female adults, 3 female juveniles and 1 male juvenile.
“All the injured were taken to Kabale Referral Hospital for first aid while the bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the hospital mortuary for postmortem,” he explained.
He added: “The wreckage of the ill-fated vehicle was being recovered from scene by breakdown to Rubanda police station.”
By press time, the road crash scene had been documented by ASP Abantu Habert and traffic teams assisted by an integrated highway team and Muko health center 1V medical officials.
“The security team held a meeting with Kabale hospital administration that promised to continue providing medical attention and food to the victims as arrangements are being made to get in touch with the refugee camps and higher authorities on how those discharged can be taken back to their settlement camps, together with bodies of the deceased passengers,” Maate disclosed.
The injured passengers admitted at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital include:
- Twagira Huzaika, 31.
- Mugisha Ndiburundi, 26.
- Nyiransabimana Noeline,45.
- Nuwigiza lasheri,13.
- Ishara Mapendo female,12.
- Ruth female, 22,
- Kakyerewa Makabuzi,39.
- Maniriho Justine, 36.
- Habimana Sebuke,45.
- Mutabazi Selukezi,32.
- Bakyesimana,37, female of Rwamwanja Kamwenge,
- Hakiza, 48, male.
- Angelica,28, female.
- Nsimimana Jackson, 32.
- Moses,1 year and 6months old.
- Balaka Pese, 7.
- Ajwo Kwitonda, 4.
- Inese Paskalina, 7.
- Visitina Cleve, 1yr old female.
- Muganda Sibomana, 12.
- Mahoro 9year-old.
- Sifa Dansila,28.
- Muhire Togen,10.
- Ushide Enock,05.
- Businge Salomo, 4.
- Mukabutera Silva, 42, female.
- Igeneye female,13, female.
- Nyomuremye Jackson, 8, male.
- Mukarwega, 50, female
- And 2-month-old kid still in ICU.
Murders and road crashes kill at least 25 people in Uganda every day, according to the 2023 annual police crime report.
