Five dead, 35 injured after truck carrying mourners veers off Bundibugyo road

Bundibugyo, (UG): At least five mourners have been confirmed dead and 35 others seriously injured in a fatal road crash after the truck they were travelling in broke down at Bugombwa Hill, and veered off the road along the Bundibugyo-Nyahuka Road in Bundibugyo District.

The tragedy which struck on Saturday, January 06, has been attributed to a mechanical problem with the truck, whose driver only identified as Aramathan, is currently on the run and police are actively hunting for him.

The ill-fated Isuzu Canter vehicle according to Bundibugyo District officer in charge of traffic Salim Ajeti Musa was ferrying mourners from the burial of their relative in Nyahuka Town Council heading to Ntotoro Sub-county in Bundibugyo District.

The deceased have been identified as Federesi Badhedwa (31 years), Godwin Amanya (18 years), Moreen Asiimwe (23 years), Rhoda Thungu (46 years) Tom and Bahemuka (36 years).

Mr Ajeti said some of the injured victims are in critical condition nursing wounds at different hospitals within and outside the district. 

One of the survivors of the road crash, Mr Abudalla Ssemujju narrates how he jumped off and landed in the nearby bush the truck when it started speeding to save his life.

“The vehicle started misbehaving after crossing the humps of Busaru Trading Center. There, we managed to climb the hill of Semuliki, but when we started ascending to Bundibugyo Town Council at Bugombwa Hill, I heard the driver struggling to put in gears, and all was in vain.”

“I saw the vehicle running at a terrible speed, and I jumped before it knocked down the roadside and overturned. I survived with minor injuries,” he added.

By Sunday afternoon, relatives of the deceased persons had gathered at the Bundibugyo Hospital mortuary to receive the bodies for burial as police concluded with the post-mortem as well as investigations to establish the real cause of the accident.