By Mudu Awurira
Six people lost their lives in a tragic road accident that occurred on Wednesday morning at Kakiika along the Ntungamo-Rukungiri Road in Ntungamo District. Additionally, three others sustained injuries in the collision.
The incident involved two motor vehicles: UBN 337H, a Toyota Hiace taxi, and UAP 385U, an Isuzu bus owned by Kasaaba Bus Company.
According to Kananura Michael, the traffic police spokesperson, the taxi was traveling from Rukungiri to Ntungamo when it suffered a tire puncture. The driver parked the taxi on the right-hand side of the road, with its hazard lights on, while attempting to fix the tire.
Tragically, the bus, en route from Kampala to Rukungiri, veered off the road and collided head-on with the stationary taxi. The impact resulted in the immediate deaths of six individuals, including the taxi driver, the turn man, and a police officer from Nsangi Police Station. Three others were injured.
Emergency responders swiftly transported the victims to Devine Health & Ntungamo Specialist Medical Centres for medical attention. The bodies have been taken to Rwashameire Health Centre IV for post-mortem examination.
The management of Kasaba buses expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Bus management says the taxi, despite having its headlights on, lacked hazard lights, warning triangles, or any other indicators to signal its mechanical issue and parked status.
”As the bus approached from the Rwashamaire side toward Rukungiri, the driver attempted to maneuver around the parked taxi. Unfortunately, the collision was unavoidable, resulting in injuries to passengers who had exited the taxi to witness the tire change. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported among the bus passengers; only shock and minor injuries occurred,” said the bus company.
