Government airlifts Kiryandongo accident survivors

What you need to know:

  • Police said the bus knocked the tractor from the rear and thereafter, the bus lost control resulting into a head-on collision with a trailer registration number UAT 321M, carrying crates of beer which was moving from the direction of Kampala.

Kiryandongo.

Government has airlifted survivors of the grisly accident that occurred in Kiryandongo district on Friday night.

A bus registration number UAK 562L belonging to Gaagaa bus company which was moving from Lira district reportedly rammed into a tractor registration number UAU 872M which was moving towards Karuma in Kiryandongo district.

Police said the bus knocked the tractor from the rear and thereafter, the bus lost control resulting into a head-on collision with a trailer registration number UAT 321M, carrying crates of beer which was moving from the direction of Kampala.

“19 people died on the spot including three drivers. 25 people were rushed and admitted at Kiryandongo hospital,” the Albertine regional Police spokesperson Mr Julius Hakiza said.

Kiryandongo hospital authorities said by Saturday morning, they had 23 bodies in their mortuary.

The scene of the accident was littered with blood, human flesh and broken glasses from Vehicle windscreens.

The accident paralyzed traffic along the usually busy Gulu-Kampala Highway as three vehicles which were involved in the accident remained at the scene which was in the middle of the road.

Those who were rushed to Kiryandongo hospital were bleeding as a result of serious injuries they sustained in the accident, eyewitnesses said.

The accident occurred at Nanda village, Nyamasa parish along the Gulu-Kampala Highway at about 10pm.

The Medical Superintendent of Kiryandongo hospital Dr Godfrey Kisembo said the Ministry of health dispatched a chopper which has airlifted the survivors to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further medication.

The military chopper landed near the hospital premises and ambulances were used to rush the survivors to the chopper.

The injured

The Kiryandongo hospital Medical superintendent Dr Godfrey Kisembo identified those who were admitted with serious injuries as Majidu Kintu, 60, a resident of Kampala, Ruth Nabisubi, 22, a resident of Gayaza in Kampala, Jackline Apiyo, 32, a resident of Lira district, Mudanwa Nathan, 9, a resident of Lira district, Mark Kabunga,6 from Lira district, Abdulsiman Issa, a Kenyan national, Abdul Sempija, 26 a resident of Namungoona in Kampala, Mutebi David, 29 a resident of Namasuba in Kampala, Joel Wasswa, 28, a resident of Makindye in Kampala.

Others who were injured include Geoffrey Namusoso, a resident of Kihura, Simon Ojok, 26, a resident of Lira district and Gloria Akulu Amongin, 30 a resident of Lira district.

Those airlifted

Out of those who were admitted at Kiryandongo hospital, Jackline Apiyo, Mark Kabuga, Gloria Amongin, Abdul Sempija, David Mutebi, Joel Wasswa, Geofrey Namusoso and Simon Ojok who works with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) were airlifted to Mulago hospital by the military chopper.

The dead

The 9-year old Nathan Mudangwa who was among those who were admitted at Kiryandongo hospital died on Saturday morning, the hospital administrators said.

Out of the 23 bodies, the hospital has identified seven bodies which have been claimed by their relatives.

They include Salome Atuhairwe, 43, a resident of Kampala, Hamad Bogere,44, a resident of Luwero district, Hassan Oringiya, 42, a resident of Kisoro district, one Mboinera, Charles Obedi,32 from Opok, Saidi Kyambi, 40, a resident of Iganga district and Norman Mulangwa,7 a resident of Kampala.