During her intensive training for the forthcoming motorcycle race, over the weekend at Garuga, in Entebbe, Wakiso district, the junior rider, Thecla Mary Nalwanga involved in an accident, causing her untimely death.
The five-year-old Nalwanga is the daughter of the two-time national rally champion, Susan Muwonge.
She died after she was knocked by another motorcycle on the racecourse while she was training at the Victoria Raceway Park in preparation for the oncoming sixth round motorcycle race that was scheduled to take place on July 27, this year.
Nalwanga, who was a pupil at City Parents Primary School Mengo and she died at Kisubi Hospital in the wee hours of Sunday morning. She was buried on Monday at Kasenge village in Wakiso district.
According to the eye witnesses, Nalwanga has been practicing at the race course under Team 28 and this was her sixth time at the race course this year.
On this particular day, the eye witnesses say she met fellow team members in different categories at the training field.
However, as she was racing on her motorcycle, a Husqvarna 50cc around the racecourse, she came across another child who had fallen off her bike after hitting the ramps placed on the racecourse to allow the motorcycles fly high in the air.
“Since she was a learner, she knocked the other child and they both fell on the ground.
Unknown to them, there was another cyclist in the senior category on the racecourse and unfortunately as his motorcycle flew high in the air, its tyres landed on Nalwanga’s head, injuring her skull,” the eye witness said.
By the time the good Samaritans came to her rescue, Nalwanga was unconscious and was rushed to Kisubi Hospital, where she succumbed to the injuries.
Federation of Motorsports Clubs of Uganda (FMU) in a statement released on Monday, said: “FMU and the entire motorsports fraternity are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our young rider. At just five years, their bright spirit and love for the sport touched many hearts and reminded us all of the joy and courage that lives in the next generation.”
FMU extended their heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.
Arthur Blick Junior, a record holder of 20 championships, including 13 Uganda National Motocross Championships and whose children are heavily involved in the motocross championship also mourned Nalwanga.
“On Sunday, we shall assemble at Garuga in memory of Nalwanga. We shall meet on Wednesday and we even contemplate naming the race after her,” he said.
According to a family member, Nalwanga was the current champion under her category and that she was motivated to join the racing by her brother Filbert Muwonge, who is also a member of team 28.
Next year, she was supposed to have raced under the Mountain Dew Motocross Championship.