Rubanda District | Xavie Radio UG | In Rubanda District, authorities are actively pursuing the driver of a white Howo Sino truck with license plate RAF 5291/RL 3794 Trailer. The driver was involved in a tragic incident that claimed the life of a 72-year-old pedestrian in Hamurwa Town Council.
The victim, identified as 72-year-old Bukuru Thomas and a resident of Hamurwa cell in Hamurwa Town Council, lost his life in the accident, which occurred at approximately 11:30 AM along the Kabale-Kisoro Road in Rubanda District.
Preliminary reports indicate that the accident unfolded when the truck, en route from Kabale to Kisoro, encountered an oncoming speeding motorcycle in the same lane. The road had been compromised by previous issues with road collapse. To avoid a head-on collision, the trailer driver swerved to the far side of the lane, inadvertently colliding with a large stone placed by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) as a protective barrier. This collision dislodged the stone, tragically striking and fatally injuring Bukuru Thomas, who was standing near the damaged road section.
It’s noteworthy that the pedestrian had initially moved off the road to avoid the oncoming vehicle, but the driver’s evasive maneuver resulted in the vehicle losing control and entering the damaged road section.
Elly Maate, the spokesperson for the Kigezi region police, attributed the accident to careless driving and excessive speeding. The driver fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
The accident scene was inspected by Asp Wakatuma, the District Traffic Officer for Rubanda, and IP Byarunga, the District Criminal Investigations Officer (DCIO), along with Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) and members of the traffic team. The body of the deceased was transported to Hamurwa Health Center IV for a postmortem examination and later handed over to the family.
The involved motor vehicle has been towed to the Rubanda Police Station, awaiting inspection by the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV). Ongoing efforts are underway to locate and apprehend the driver.
