KASSANDA, UGANDA: The Police in Kassanda district have arrested a Chinese national identified as Zhao Haizhanga for allegedly killing two children and injuring three others in a road accident.
The accident which involved a Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Reg No UAU 001V happened Tuesday morning in Kamusenene village along Lubaali, Bukuya road in Kassanda district, Central Uganda.
Wamala Region Police Spokesperson, Ms Rachael Kawala identified the deceased as Matovu Jonathan 5yrs and Buriana Nantongo 6yr old, all residents of Kamusenene village and pupils at Glory Nursery and primary school.
Ms Kawala said according to preliminary findings, Haizhanga had attempted to overtake a truck loaded with logs when he rammed into the five pupils, killing two on the spot and injuring three others.
“Zhao Haizhanga was driving M/V reg no. UAU 001V when he attempted to overtake a truck loaded with logs, knocking 5 pedestrians all juveniles and pupils at Glory Nursery and primary school. He killed 2 (two) instantly and injured the other 3 (three),” a Tuesday police statement read.
The injured who are yet to be identified were taken to Mityana General Hospital for treatment, while Matovu and Nantongo’s bodies were taken to Kassanda Health Centre IV pending postmortem.
Police said detectives visited and document the scene of crime while Zhao remains in police custody while the wreckage of the vehicle he was driving was also parked at Bukuya police station as investigations continue.
The Police Annual Crime Report 2022 released in March this year indicated that Uganda registered 20,394 cases of road accidents in 2022 compared to 17,443 registered in 2021.
Accordingly, the report points out that for every 100 crashes, 22 people died while 61 per cent of all accidents were as a result of reckless driving.
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