By George Bukenya
Police in Ntwetwe-Masodde, Kyankwazi District has arrested the Head Teacher of St.Paul C/U Kasolo SS who is alleged hired a prohibited truck that crashed while transporting students to a sports trip. The truck driver who is on the run is also wanted.
The truck registration number UBK 900A Isuzu Forward was hired by the school to transport 60 students on 11th ,March 2024 but along the way its driver who is on the run allegedly failed to negotiate the corner at Ntwetwe trading centre leading to an accident which claimed two lives of students.
The Directorate of Traffic Police Department spokesperson Michael Kananura while addressing reporters at Police Headquarters in Naguru on 18thMarch, 2024 confirmed the death of two students a one by names of Mulabira James, 18, died instantly and Ssuuna Mike, 17, also succumbed to injuries at Mulago referral hospital the following day.
According to Kananura, apart from the duo who lost lives, 3 others sustained severe injuries and are at Mulago receiving treatment while 26 hard minor injuries and have been discharged.
He also said that the vehicle was over speeding and the driver who is on the run failed to negotiate a corner leading to the overturn of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle has also been summoned by Police to make a statement.
Meanwhile, Kananura also informed reporters that a total of 402 road crashes occurred over the last two weeks and 91 people perished, 321 sustained injuries. Of the total death, 42 were motorcycle riders, 35 pedestrians while 14 were passengers on motorcycles.
The causes of these crashes according to the traffic police directorate’s mouthpiece are still the usual ones like improver overtaking such as the one that occurred along Iganga-Tororo Highway on 15th March, 2024 which claimed 10 people were 8 were passengers in a taxi registration number UAW 963M whose driver was over taking six vehicles and ended up corroding head on with a trailer that was coming from the opposite direction.
Kananura said that in an effort to curb drink-driving which is one of the major causes of accidents, a total of 59 drivers were arrested and detained in the operation carried out, and these were later issued with express penalty tickets of Ushs 200, 000 which they paid before being released.
He said that operations will still go on this week to curtail drivers without driving permits, those who are driving out of class and for expired licences. While for bodaboda they will target those lacking permits, crash helmets and reflect jackets.
Driving Tips
Don’t driver when you are not feeling fit, avoid drink-driving, stop using drugs when you are going to drive, improper overtaking and over speeding shop also been avoided.