Two soldiers have died, and five others have been seriously injured following a head-on collision along the Kampala–Gulu highway.
The crash occurred at Kalule village near Bombo town in Luwero district. The accident involved a white Fuso Fighter truck, registration number UAN 394Z, which was travelling from Kampala toward Luwero, and a Toyota Hilux, registration number UG 0388D, part of the official convoy of Huda Oleru, the state minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs.
The convoy was heading from Luwero toward Kampala. Savannah regional police spokesperson Sam Twiineamazima said the collision occurred when the Fuso truck attempted to overtake and rammed head-on into the oncoming Toyota Hilux carrying the minister’s escorts.
He said the impact killed Lance Corporal Moses Edongoto on the spot, while six army officers and two civilians were injured. The second soldier died on arrival at hospital.
The injured were rushed to Bombo General Military Hospital, and both vehicles were later towed to Bombo police station as investigations began.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the cause of the crash was reckless overtaking by the driver of the Fuso truck,” Twiineamazima said.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Norbert Mao was among the first to arrive at the scene as he travelled back to Kampala. Mao said he spoke to minister Huda Oleru, who was unharmed and whose vehicle was not affected in the collision. He also contacted Defence minister Oboth Oboth, who directed medical teams at Bombo to respond to the emergency.
Of course those who were speeding like hell on earth with open passengers on board got what they deserved. One believes driver fatigue is one of the causes of such horrible accidents on these dodgy Uganda highways. Most probably the Fuso driver was still fresh and sober as he had left Kampala 20 miles behind him. Instead the driver of this busy minister had driven a tough Toyota Hilux pick up truck, 200 miles for 5 hours on a dodgy and unrepaired rough highway, without any rest!
Tragic! May the souls of the deceased be at peace.
But, as if we are in an indefinite/permanent STATE OF EMERGENCY/INSECURITY, 40 years and counting; why all the excess baggage in the name 7 Body Guards, heavily armed to the teeth to guard just one person?
In other words, TOO MUCH SECURITY for just one or two persons, at the surplus expense of the sweat and blood of the impoverished taxpayers, is INSECURITY and a CURSE at that.