At least 94 people died in the week of reopening schools that had been under lock and key for nearly two years. Assistant Superintendent of Police –ASP Faridah Nampiima, who is the traffic records officer and spokesperson, said a total of 444 people were victims of road accidents. This translates into 13 people perishing in road accidents on each of last week’s seven days.
In addition, 350 other people survived with serious injuries. ASP Nampiima explains that because of the reopening of schools, there was a lot of activities on the roads and thus a number of fatalities shot up.
“We all remember this a period when schools reopened and children were reporting back to school. During this period, a total of 393 accident occurred. Out of these, 68 fatal, 215 serious and 110 minor. The victims were 444. Of these 94 died and 350 sustained serious injuries,” ASP Nampiima explains.
One of the major accidents of last week occurred at Kyampisi in Nakasongola district along the Kampala-Gulu highway leaving five people dead on spot. ASP Nampiima said four people were left nursing injuries in Kyampisi accident.
The Kyampisi accident involved a Toyota Hiace commonly known as Drone UBE 902T which rammed into a stationery Benz trailer SSD 078U/SSD773A. The Hiace hit the trailer from behind an incident police said emanated from reckless driving.
“We want to urge all drivers and road users to be vigilant on roads, avoid speeding, reckless driving and other accident contributing factors. We are to enhance our Fiika Salama operations and spot checks along all highways,” Nampiima said.
Another accident that claimed lives of four family members occurred at Najjembe trading centre along Jinja- Kampala Highway in Buikwe district. This accident, according to ASP Hellen Butoto, the Ssezibwa regional spokesperson, involved a Tata lorry registration number UAX 660C and commuter taxi.
Butoto explained that the lorry which was moving from Jinja towards Kampala, tried to dodge a head-on collision with a taxi which was overtaking. But in the process of avoiding a taxi, the lorry knocked five pedestrians thus killing four on spot and one was left seriously injured.
Police identified the Najjembe victims as Akumu Faith 23y; Anyango Rose 14, Awori Promise 18 months old, Faith Akumu eights months old and Shamirah Kimono 3. The survivor was identified as also a juvenile aged 1yr and 8months and a daughter of the deceased (Akum Faith) and Kimono Shamillah aged 3.
Police in the same week arrested 9241 traffic offenders over violating various regulations among others driving without valid permit, over speeding, not wearing seatbelts and dangerous mechanical condition.