Tears are perhaps rolling on the cheeks of Alice Namwanje’s parents, siblings and relatives after she was knocked dead today morning by a speeding vehicle while heading to school.
Namwanje was a student at Bishop Secondary School in Mukono Municipality which falls under the Kampala metropolitan area.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, said investigations have commended to apprehend the driver who killed the student and later varnished.
“We are investigating a fatal accident that claimed the life of a 13 year old girl this morning. The accident was registered as hit and run Fatal accident involving motor vehicle registration number 108P Toyota Hilux, motorcycle number 662A Bajaj boxer and pedestrians,” Onyango said.
Witnesses have told police that at about 6:30am, a Toyota Hilux UBK 108P was at a high speed going towards Kampala side.
“When it reached Butebe opposite Lands office Mukono along Mukono Kampala high way, it knocked three students and other people injuring them seriously,” a witness said.
Onyango said unfortunately Namwanje died on the way to the hospital but her fellow victims are nursing injuries in the hospital.
Police have identified the injured ones as Diana Namulindwa 14, also a student of Bishops SS, Jennifer Namatovu 13, a pupil of Nalusse Primary School, John Lugondo a resident of Seeta Bajjo and unidentified teacher of Nagalama school.
“A team of Police officers visited the scene headed by Asp Alele the Mukono division traffic officer. The investigations are still ongoing,” Onyango said.
A number young people between the age of 12 and 24 are some of the categories people mostly knocked and killed on Ugandan roads.
This has often been blamed on reckless driving, speeding, drink -drug driving, vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions and lack of safety lanes for children.
There’s is an ongoing campaign intended to create awareness of road safety. Road safety experts, media and other well wishers are currently trekking to Mbale district under the theme I don’t want to die young.
Ugandan loses at least 10 people everyday in road crashes. The largest victims of road crashes are pedestrians, commercial motorcycle riders and passengers on motorcycles.