A truck driver was killed and two other people seriously injured in a collision involving two trucks along the Kampala–Gulu highway in Luwero district on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Denis Ssegujja, who was driving a Sino truck, registration number UBJ 314L, loaded with sand. The second vehicle was a Mitsubishi Fuso box-body truck, registration number UA 283 DJ.
The crash occurred at about 11:50 am in Nkondo village, Nnyimbwa Sub-county, approximately 40 kilometres into Luwero district.
Savannah Region police spokesperson Sam Twiineamazima said preliminary investigations indicate that the Sino truck was travelling from Gulu towards Kampala when it suffered a tyre failure.
The truck reportedly burst four tyres, causing Ssegujja to lose control and collide with the oncoming Mitsubishi Fuso. The impact forced the Fuso off the road before it overturned in a maize garden.
Twiineamazima said traffic police officers responded to the scene and rushed the two injured victims, whose identities had not yet been established, to Bombo General Military Hospital for treatment.
Ssegujja’s body was taken to Luwero General Hospital for a postmortem examination, while the wreckage of both trucks was towed to the Bombo Police Parking Yard for inspection by the Inspectorate of Vehicles.
Twiineamazima said investigations into the exact cause of the crash were ongoing.
The rate of grizzly accidents on our roads involving the Sino truck brand, is a fresh reminder of the famous/infamous remnants of World War II (WWII) East German IFA trucks. Cynically translated as: Imported for Accidents.
This model was either a dumping donations from Communist East Germany, or like the Junk Chopper saga, they were cheaply/corruptly imported by the Ministry of Defence.
In other words, whoever saw IFA coming would have to run for his/her dear life because, anything could happen. Especially its notorious break failure, else you may end up becoming the breaks to stop it.
Because of its dangerous mechanical conditin (DMC), many roadside buildings/shops became the damned IFA trucks’ breaks. And aware of the danger, IFA drivers drove while sweating; with one leg out the door, ready to jump before it crushed.
Otherwise, besides it DMC and considering its excessive tonnage; by design, the Sino Dump trucks are imported for the perpetual destruction of our flimsy structured roads. So much so that the Chinese construction companies would be permanently contracted to be fixing our roads.