A fatal accident on Tuesday night claimed the life of a pupil and left 117 others injured in Manafwa District.
Michael Kananura, Public Relations Officer Traffic & Road Safety, said the single fatal accident was registered at 10:00 pm at Kufu along the Manafwa-Mbale Road.
“It involved a vehicle registration number UBJ 994J, a Tata Lorry owned by Bukusu Corporative Enterprise Ltd. It is alleged that the driver of the Tata Lorry, identified as Mr Godmas Mamai, was transporting students from Nakhupa Primary School while travelling at high speed, the vehicle lost control at Kufu along the Manafwa-Mbale Road and overturned,” Kananura explained.
“This unfortunate incident claimed the life of a 16-year-old pupil, Naminayi Thomas, on the spot. Additionally, 117 others sustained injuries.”
He said the injured were rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for medical attention.
The deceased’s body has also been taken to the same hospital for postmortem examination.
The involved vehicle has been towed to Manafwa Police Station pending a thorough inspection.
“Regrettably, the driver, Mr Godmas Mamai, is currently on the run. Initial findings suggest that reckless speeding might have been the primary cause of the accident. We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that trucks are not designed to transport passengers. Such accidents highlight the importance of adhering to safety regulations and guidelines,” he noted.