Written By | BK Mugizi
Students among the injured on Mbarara -Bushenyi road accident
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BUSHENYI
Two people were killed and several others injured in two separate crashes on the Mbarara-Bushenyi Road in Bushenyi District on Sunday, as thousands of learners travelled back to school for the third term.
Two killed at St Kagwa
The first crash occurred at about 6:00pm at St Kagwa in Central Division, Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, where a trailer collided with a motorcycle, killing two passengers on the spot and injuring the rider.
According to police, a green Mercedes-Benz trailer, registration number CGO 6561AC/19, was travelling from Ishaka towards Bushenyi when its driver allegedly attempted to overtake a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, registration number UFM 589K.
The trailer knocked the motorcycle, killing the two passengers, police said.
The deceased were identified as Atwongiryeho Brilian, 22, a resident of Muzira I, Kabaare Parish, Kakanju Sub-county, Bushenyi District, and Sasiraabo Arnolin, 20, of Ryanyamihondo Village, Swazi Parish, Kyamuhunga Sub-county, Bushenyi District.
The motorcycle rider, Kwasa Derrick, 23, of Muzira I, Kakanju Sub-county, Kabaare Parish, sustained injuries and was rushed to KIU Hospital for treatment.
Edward Arigo, a resident of St Kagwa, said the narrowness and poor condition of the Mbarara-Bushenyi Road were contributing to frequent accidents in the area. He urged the government to urgently rehabilitate and widen the road, saying it had become old and needed immediate attention to improve road safety.
"The road is becoming old and narrow, which is contributing to accidents. The government should urgently rehabilitate and widen it to improve road safety," Arigo said.
Police attributed the crash to suspected reckless driving by the trailer driver, identified as Katembo Bairabati Japhet, a Congolese national, who is currently detained at Bushenyi Central Police Station.
The bodies were taken to the Kampala International Teaching Hospital mortuary for postmortem, while the trailer and motorcycle were towed to Bushenyi Police Station pending inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV).
Boda boda riders help the survivor to the hospital after the evenin crash at St. Kagwa in Bushenyi town
Students injured in three-vehicle crash
Earlier, at about 2:00pm, another crash occurred at Kazuho in Rutooma Ward, Rwentuha Town Council, along the same Mbarara-Bushenyi Road.
Several people were injured when three vehicles—a Toyota Premio, registration number UBP 156S; a Sahara, registration number UAF 674N; and a Toyota RAV4, registration number UA 619AU—were involved in a collision.
According to eyewitness Nuwahereza Praise, the Sahara was travelling towards Mbarara when another vehicle travelling from the Mbarara side lost control and collided with the other two vehicles.
No death was reported in the crash, but several people were injured and rushed to hospital for treatment.
One of the deceased, Atwongyeireho Brilian
Among the injured were two students in school uniforms who were reportedly travelling back to school for the new term. Their school could not be immediately identified.
Nuwahereza said the students appeared to be unconscious and had visible injuries when they were evacuated for medical attention.
Police had not issued an official statement on the cause of the second crash by the time of reporting, although eyewitnesses attributed it to loss of control.
The two crashes occurred during a busy travel period as learners returned to school, renewing concerns about road safety along the Mbarara-Bushenyi Road.
