UPDF soldier, four-year-old boy killed in army truck crash
The wreckage of a UPDF truck that killed a soldier and a four-year-old boy in Kasese District on April 17, 2023. PHOTO/ COURTESY
What you need to know:
- In last year’s annual crime report, police indicated an increase of 35 percent in the common traffic offences.
A four-year-old boy and a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier died in a Monday road crash in Kasese District in western Uganda.
The 12:30pm crash happened at Nyamwamba West cell, Nyamwamba Division along Nyakasanga Road.
The traffic police spokesperson, ASP Faridah Nampiima said the driver of a speeding UPDF Toyota Land Cruiser knocked down Bira Linius, a resident of Nyamwamba West Acholi quarters in Kasese District, as he crossed the road before the driver lost control and rammed into a nearby house.
Pte Fred Mawadri attached to Rukoki Barracks under mountain brigade who was seated behind the truck was crushed to death by the falling debris, according to police.
“The suspected cause of the accident has been attributed to speeding and careless crossing of the road by the juvenile. The two bodies were conveyed to Kasese Hospital for postmortem examination. Further investigations into the accident are underway,” ASP Nampiima said.
Fuso truck rams into six motorcycles
In a related development, a boda boda rider was killed at Masanafu along the Kampala Northern bypass expressway after a Fuso truck rammed into six motorcycles.
The deceased was identified as Innocent Taremwa, a resident of Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb following the 11:50am crash.
“The deceased was riding motorcycle registration number 486S. Eight others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to different medical centers for treatment. Investigations into the cause of the accident are underway,” ASP Nampiima said Monday.
This comes just days after police said on April 11 that at least 200 people were reported dead in road crashes in Uganda in just two weeks, 37 of whom were killed in the three days of Easter season.
In last year’s annual crime report, police indicated an increase of 35 percent in the common traffic offences.
The report showed that police registered 456,993 cases in 2022 compared to 336,722 cases in 2021 and as a result, the number of road traffic crashes increased from 17,443 in 2021 to 20,394 in 2022 where 3,901 crashes were fatal, 10,776 were serious while 5,717 were minor by nature.
