Eight market vendors dead in Kakumiro accident

Kakumiro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Eight people have been confirmed dead in a fatal accident that occurred last night in Kakumiro district.

The deceased persons whose particulars are yet to be established are market vendors who were travelling in a Fuso truck registration number UBE 854D from Kisengwe market in Kakumiro district.

The accident happened at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday in Kyabasegu village, Kisengwe sub-county when the truck, loaded with over 70 passengers, lost control in a sharp corner, swerved off the road and overturned several times, killing eight people on the spot.

Some of the survivors who spoke to Uganda Radio Network explained that the driver was overspeeding at the time the accident occurred. They said some of them attempted to jump off the truck to save their lives, while the driver immediately took off to an unknown destination after the accident.

Joseph Niwaha, one of the eyewitnesses explains that she heard people screaming for help and rushed to the scene where they found survivors struggling for help.

Johnson Tulinawe, another eyewitness explains that the bodies of the deceased persons were trapped under the vehicle when the first responders arrived at the scene.

In the wake of the accident, Kakumiro District Chairman Joseph Sentayihas warned drivers to desist from overloading and driving vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says that particulars of the deceased persons and those injured are yet to be established. He says the bodies of the deceased persons have been taken to Kakumiro Health Center IV mortuary where they are currently lying pending postmortem while the injured have also been rushed to the same health facility.

He says some of the accident victims are residents of Kyenjojo, Mubende and Kakumiro districts.

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