Fear gripped the residents of Soroti City East following the tragic death of a school director in a road crash that involved a tricycle motorbike locally known as Tukutuku.
The deceased has been identified as Patrick Okolong Ejolu, the director of Aloet Integrated Nursery and Primary School. The accident occurred when the Tukutuku which Ejolu was riding veered off the road and crashed into a tree on Thursday.
Ejolu was traveling from his residence in Aloet Ward to Soroti Town via the Aloet-Madera Kichinjaji Road when he lost control of the Tukutuku. According to reports, Ejolu was distracted while looking at a mechanical workshop located at Cornerstone Trading Centre.
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Emmanuel Okurut, an eyewitness, explained that Ejolu was riding at a moderate speed but became momentarily distracted by the workshop and a group of people dancing by the roadside.
“He appeared to lose focus on the road, which caused him to steer off course. By the time he refocused, the Tukutuku had already left the road and crashed into a tree. The impact was fatal, and he died instantly. Another passenger on board fell off and sustained serious injuries,” Okurut said.
Ejolu’s body was taken to the Soroti City Mortuary for a postmortem examination, while the injured passenger, whose identity was not immediately available, was rushed to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital for treatment. The wreckage of the Tukutuku was transported to Soroti Central Police Station for inspection by the vehicle inspector.
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A source close to the family, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that Ejolu was on the way to have the tricycle repaired at a mechanic’s workshop in Soroti Town.
“The Tukutuku was in poor mechanical condition. It had been misfiring but was running at the time. The director was riding it to the mechanic for repairs. Unfortunately, he was involved in an accident,” the source said.
The source also noted that Ejolu had chosen to ride the tricycle himself because his regular employee was unavailable.
Rose Alaso, who described Ejolu as a dedicated educationist, expressed deep regret over his death. “We have lost a champion of equal educational opportunities for both girls and boys. His commitment to education was remarkable, and his passing is a great loss,” Alaso said.
Traffic officers at the scene declined to comment, stating that the incident was beyond their jurisdiction.