Police, UNRA Trade Blame on Masaka Road Carnage that Claimed 13

Police have defended themselves on claims that the recent accident along Masaka road 2 weeks ago was caused due to over speeding.

Thirteen people died when a fuso truck carrying scrap lost control and rammed into a coaster destined for Tanzania at Lubanda trading centre, near river Katonga bridge.

Speaking to journalists on Monday at the police headquarters in Naguru, Dr. Stephen Kasiima, the traffic police director said the cause of the accident was overloading .

“Eyewitnesses say the driver first stopped and fastened the seat belt,” Kasiima told journalists.

A report from the inspector of vehicles indicates that the vehicle lost control due to failure by brakes and overloading.

He noted that it is most likely that the vehicle was never weighed to check whether it was overloaded at UNRA weigh bridges in Mbarara and Lukaya.

Kasiima noted that police in this case had nothing to do with overloading because they don’t own weigh bridges to check on over loaded vehicles.

The traffic police director however said they have started an operation to check all vehicles that are overloaded at their check points .

According to Kasiima, vehicles without weighing stickers would be ordered to return to the previous weigh bridges to be weighed before being allowed to proceed with their journeys.

Kasiima also revealed that they are to start an operation on vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions on the road especially trucks and those carrying passengers.