“Some of our colleagues were ejected through the windows while others attempted to jump out and those who tried to jump out died, and many of us who were stuck inside were saved,” Maama Molly narrated.
District Councilor, Three Others Arrested Over Alleged Child Sacrifice
Survivors and Rakai civic leaders have given a posthumous account of what could have triggered the fatal accident that left six people dead and scores injured in the weekend accident at Kamuli village, Lwentulege sub-county in Rakai district, while on their way back home to Kampala after a burial in Isingiro district in Western Uganda.
While Greater Masaka Police spokesperson, Twaha Kasirye suspects the driver could have been over speeding, Rakai district chairperson, Ssalongo Samuel Kaggwa attributed the accident to the deplorable state of the road, and stated that for the last 35 years, district authorities have been pleading with government, particularly the scraped Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), to upgrade it to no avail.
Kaggwa said the 42-km Rakai-Kibaale-Kibanda-Isingiro road is such a vital stretch as it adjoins Rakai to districts including Mbarara and Isingiro, and is a transit route for a lot of merchandise. Rakai district Engineer, Umar Ssebalinde said they are going to exert more pressure on the government to upgrade the road.
District Councilor, Three Others Arrested Over Alleged Child Sacrifice
According to one of the survivors, Agnes Niwagaba Ssali alias Maama Molly, who was hospitalised at Kiruddu Hospital, they travelled with two drivers and the driver for the return journey Muhamood Mutumba defied his passengers pleas not to travel via Rakai.
She further narrated that at a sharp corner, the driver slowed down but ended up sliding into a ditch and, owing to the stony state of the road, the vehicle swerved off the road and somersaulted about five times before finally stopping against a rock.
“Some of our colleagues were ejected through the windows while others attempted to jump out and those who tried to jump out died, and many of us who were stuck inside were saved,” Maama Molly narrated.
And onlookers including the area councilor, Evas Kansiime said while it is true that the road is in a poor state, the driver was over speeding, and they saw it veering off the road and overturning several times, finally resting in the ditch against a rock.
Poliisi Eyigga Ssaabakristu Asse Mukaziwe Ng’entabwe Eva ku Bwenzi
Abdurahim Bukenya who was hospitalised at Carerton Medical Centre Kitebi said the driver saw it all coming and that on realizing that he had lost control, he announced that they were in danger and asked everybody to hold on tight in their positions. The driver lost an arm and is hospitalised at Mulago.
One of the deceased Dan Kibirige was the personal secretary to the head of the Buganda ‘Ngeye’ (colobus money) clan. A requiem mass was organised at St. Luke’s Church Mutundwe, and was headed by Nateete Archdeacon, Canon B. K. Buwembo who spoke highly of the late Kibirige for ardently loving his church. Kibirige’s burial is today Tuesday at Mpambire in Mpigi district.
A similar requiem mass was held for Princess Veronica Nakabiri and Teddy Ishungisa at Amans and Mapeera church at Kitebi. Nakabiri is to be buried at Nabusanke along Kampala-Masaka Road.
What others say:
Bwanika Ismail – As a token of corporate social responsibility, the government should immediately upgrade the road for the people of Rakai otherwise they will be bogged in perpetual poverty owing to bad roads.
Alice Masengere – I have been going to church with some of the deceased in the Catholic church, and I was scheduled to travel with them but because I had to attend to a patient, I missed the journey. God’s Blessing!
Umar Ssebalinde – Drivers should be extra careful when driving through roads in remote areas because the roads are in a terrible state.