By Frank Kamuntu
Namutumba: Five people are confirmed to have died on spot and several other injured after getting involved in a tragic accident that occurred in Magada Sub County along Buyange Village, in Namutumba District, when a taxi they were traveling in lost control and rolled several times on Tuesday September 17, evening.
According to witnesses, the speeding commuter taxi registration number UBE 687L got a puncture and overturned several times, killing five instantly and leaving eleven severely injured.
Traffic police and locals reached the scene in time to pull the injured out of the wreckage, before rushing them to Magada health centre III and Iganga General hospital where they are undergoing medical attention.
Meanwhile, the deceased were also taken to Iganga general hospital mortuary pending postmortem and identification before they can be given to relatives for burial.
However, Namutumba LCV Chairman Saleh Kumbuga blamed Uganda National Roads Authority ( UNRA) officials for not constructing raised humps in trading centres.
Kumbuga said that “We are fed up of this mess. Let UNRA construct raised humps within the trading centres because they will technically force these speeding commuter taxis and trucks to reduce speed while driving through trading centres.”
He added that “Traffic officers should also maintain their continued presence on the roads and ensure routine scrutiny of DMCs from our highways.”
James Mubi, the Busoga East Police Spokesperson said that investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of persistent accidents along the highways.
“We have beefed up our daily traffic operations with both motorized and foot patrols along the highway black spots of Nakalama, Waina, Tirinyi, among others with an aim of curbing accidents in the eastern Sub-region.”
