Lango: On Monday, the regional traffic police in North Kyoga had started investigating two fatal crashes in Kole and Lira districts.
Oyam – January 12, 2022: Since Monday evening Lango sub-region is grieving after a deadly road crash.
A Fuso lorry Reg. No. UBJ 354G carrying traders from Ajuri market in Alebtong district overturned at Alik-pot trading centre, Agali sub-county in Lira district.
The peak-hour crash claimed the lives of seven instantly. Nineteen got grave injures and were rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for quick medical attention.
Unfortunately, on Tuesday morning, sad news came: two were pronounced dead. The death toll from that crash now stands at nine. Seventeen (17) remain in critical condition.
In an update to Journalists, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, ASP Jimmy Patrick Okema attributed the incident to overspeeding, overloading and reckless driving.
Earlier, on Monday, an eyewitness told TND News that the Fuso lorry driver wanted to overtake another car driving in the same direction. “In the process, the rear tyres didn’t balance and it went down.”
Kole-Lira crash
On Monday, the regional traffic police in North Kyoga had started investigating two fatal crashes in Kole and Lira districts.
According to ASP Okema, a motor vehicle Reg. No. T 681/ZD 4845 Actros semi-trailer driven by Salan Ali, 26, and a resident of Nairobi, Kenya knocked a motorcycle Reg. No. UEF 850Y.
He said the motorcycle, a Bajai boxer was being ridden by Opena Walter, 22, a resident of Karuma who died on spot.
His passenger, Okello Francis sustained injuries and was rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.
This accident occurred on January 9, 2022, at Alyat around 4:00 pm along Lira-Kamdini highway.
Lira-Kitgum road
A motor vehicle with Reg. No. UBG 163W Isuzu travelling from Kitgum to Lira City lost control on reaching Aswa ‘B’ village in Ayami sub-county in Lira district.
After the driver lost control, the vehicle that was carrying six people overturned. One person identified as Rubangakene Ronald, 16, died instantly after the vehicle ran over him.
The deceased teenager is a resident of Aswa ‘A’ village, Ayami sub-county in Lira district – the Regional Police Spokesperson revealed.
Lira district traffic crash numbers
From January 2020 to December, Police Traffic Department at Lira Central Police Station registered 88 road crashes. Of these, 43 were fatal; 30 and 15 were serious and minor cases, respectively.
It involved 84 motor vehicles, 63 motorcycles and 8 bicycles.
Again, from January 2021 up to October, the preliminary report indicated that Lira district recorded 169 crashes; 28 were fatal, 99 serious and 42 minor cases respectively.
During the same period, 10 bicycles were involved; 145 motorcycles and 114 motor vehicles.
National figures
Uganda is still facing road safety challenges as 3,663 deaths were reported due to road crashes in 2020.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report of 2020, there was a 4.7 per cent reduction in the number of crashes reported that year.
In 2019, 12,858 crashes were reported and 12,249 in 2020.
In 2021, especially during Christmas and New Year holidays, data from Uganda Police’s Traffic and Road Safety Directorate shows that more than 50 people lost their lives.
Read: Christmas tragedy: Over 50 die in fatal road crashes nationwide
Read more on local, national and global road crash data here.
Following the recent fatal incidences, the North Kyoga Regional Traffic Officer (RTO), Mathias Okwir told this publication there is going to be an engagement meeting with Fuso lorry, tipper and bus drivers in Lira City on Thursday, January 13.
He said the meeting is to understand and ask the drivers “what is the problem”, to inform them of the key measures the Police’s Traffic Department in North Kyoga will undertake and how to move forward.
“Even when they (traders) know there is no way of transporting their things, the drivers should know the lives of the people they carry is valued,” Okwir said.
“It is really becoming a problem with the high number of fatalities,” he added.