Police in Namutumba District on sunday evening responded to a traffic head-on collision between a YY bus under registration number UAY 852F and commuter taxi, under registration number UAV 689X that occurred at around 6.40 pm, at Bukonte village, (located 5 kms from Namutumba and 25 kms from Iganga), along the Iganga-Namutumba Highway.
A statement released by the police indicates that the driver to the taxi dangerously overtook another commuter taxi that was also heading towards Namutumba from Iganga crashing into the bus in the opposite lane.
The accident left 9 passengers dead and 4 injured critically including the life of a cyclist who succumbed to the injuries at a nearby clinic and other two victims, who were injured on a motorcycle under registration number UDS 126N.
The bodies to the 10 deceased persons were transferred to Iganga Referral Hospital for postmortem examination.The 6 injured victim were taken for better treatment.
“All the passengers in the bus had no injuries and efforts are already in place to track down the driver who is on the run, to help in our investigations. Our sympathies go out to both the victims and their families in both incidents,” Police Spokesperson CP Fred Enanga said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn the acts of motorists who put the lives of others in danger due to recklessness. These two separate but tragic incidents calls for additional measures by all stakeholders in strengthening our road safety campaigns, with stricter penalties to serve as a deterrent. This is because most of the crash and collision traffic incidents on our roads primarily occur due to bad decisions by drivers,” he added.
Further sensitization and awareness programs by the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, are ongoing countrywide, for transport owners and their drivers, for them to know that truck and bus driving, requires enough rest and vehicles in good mechanical condition, for the safety of drivers. The awareness campaign and operations, is also targeting drink and drug driving, speeding, distraction, use of seat belts and driving permits to help prevent such occurrences.
