A tragic accident occurred in Namataba Town Council, Mukono District, along the Jinja-Kampala highway, early this morning, claiming the lives of five people. The incident involved a cement trailer, registration number UBJ 930T / UAW 217A, which lost control and crashed into several buildings, including Maria's Restaurant, a clinic, shops, and residential houses.
The accident happened at around 2:00 AM when the trailer, traveling from Jinja to Kampala, reportedly lost its brakes and veered off the road. The impact caused significant damage to the structures, trapping several people under the rubble. Five individuals are feared dead, while others sustained serious injuries.
Among the victims is Bwabya Devis, a Primary Two pupil who was on his way to school. Other victims include Hajati Mwamini and Mugwanya Alamanzani, a butcher who suffered a leg injury. The injured were rushed to Mukono General Hospital and Kawolo General Hospital for treatment.
Police from Mukono and Lugazi responded swiftly to the scene, conducting rescue operations and recovering bodies from the wreckage. The community was left in shock and mourning as they identified their loved ones among the victims.
Eyewitnesses at the scene expressed their grief and frustration, blaming the accident on the poor condition of the road, particularly a pothole that caused the trailer to lose control. They also criticized the reckless driving of trailer drivers in the area and called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
Douglas Namujjali, the Mayor of Namataba Town Council, visited the scene and expressed his condolences to the affected families. He highlighted the dangers posed by the potholes and the narrow road, urging authorities to take immediate action to prevent further accidents.
At Mukono General Hospital, some of the injured were admitted to the emergency ward, with one victim, Ritah, in critical condition.
The police later towed the trailer and the wreckage to the Lugazi Police Station for further investigation.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, confirmed the identities of the deceased as:
1. Nabosa Mwamini, a 28-year-old female from Kibati-Namataba
2. Matovu Jeremiah, a 4-year-old male
3. Mwabya Devis, a 10-year-old male
The injured victims include:
1. Nakasolya Shadia, a 21-year-old female from Kibati-Namataba
2. Mugwanya Alamanzani, a 42-year-old male from Kibati-Namataba
3. Katamba Moses, the 45-year-old driver from Lugazi
4. Mufuti Benjamin, an 18-year-old male from Walusubi
5. Mulindwa Marvin, a 20-year-old male from Kibati-Namataba
6. Nnunda Hamidu, a 23-year-old male from Namengo
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident was caused by brake failure, which led the trailer to hit a pothole and lose control before crashing into the buildings. Further investigations are ongoing.
