Thirteen people including twelve Tanzanian nationals and one Ugandan perished after a lorry collided with a coaster bus along the Kampala – Masaka highway.
The fatal accident which occurred on Saturday night at Katonga Golo junction involved a Fuso lorry Reg. No. UAH 970P and a Tanzanian coaster bus Reg. No. T540 DLC with 19 passengers on board.
Police Spokesperson AIGP As an Kasingye told journalists on Monday that the 19 passengers all Tanzanian nationals were travelling to Tanzania from Kampala where they had been attending a wedding.
All the 13 bodies including 7 males and 6 females have since been removed from the wreckage by Police’s Fire and Control Unit and taken to Gombe hospital for postmortem.
Eight (8) survivors currently hospitalized at Mulago hospital in critical condition, according to AIGP Kasingye.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate incident. We thought we had put enough road transport safeguards with our Fika Salama operation,” Kasingye said.
He said that investigations have commenced to establish what could have caused the lorry to lose its control. Preliminary findings however state that the head-on collision happened at a steep slope where the lorry was descending.
The Police spokesperson commended the Police Directorate of Fire and Control, led by AIGP Joseph Mugisa for responding quickly to rescue survivors and clear the road of the wreckage.
Masaka road has become infamous for its numerous road accidents despite efforts by the Police and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) over the last few years.