Three dead, scores injured after truck plunges into Lake Victoria

Namayingo, (UG):- At least three people have been confirmed dead and nine others nursing critical injuries after a speeding Fuso truck plunged into Lake Victoria in eastern Uganda’s Namayingo District.

The crash occurred at Bumeru landing site, Mutumba Sub County in Namayingo after the braking system of a speeding Fuso truck registration number UAY 233S reportedly failed to respond, leading to the tragedy.

Busoga East police spokesperson SSP Diana Nandawula confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Waiswa Mulongo and Okumu Ivan, both aged 24, who died on the spot while another, Henry Mayende died on the way to Buyinja Health Center IV.

“Two bodies were retrieved from the water while the third person died on the way to the health centre,” Ms Nandawula said in a Monday statement, adding that all the bodies were by Monday taken to Buyinja Health Centre IV mortuary in Namayingo district for postmortem examination as investigations continue.

She added that the truck was later retrieved from the water and towed to Namayingo central police station where it is parked, pending inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV).

Mr Katibu Mugoya, the LC3 Chairperson for Mutumba Subcounty identified some of the survivors as Nasiri Muyima, Muzaham Musinge, Wakabi Magumba and Suha Habibu, among others, all of whom are currently admitted at various health facilities within the district.

This publication has further established that one of the deceased was a local comedian who had been on a truck doing a drive for his upcoming show but sadly did not survive the tragic incident as the brake system of the truck failed and rolled the vehicle back into the lake.

The District Information Officer for Namayingo district, Ms. Betty Angatai told DailyExpress that the crash left at least nine people injured and authorities were yet to establish whether the occupants of the truck were all residents of Namayingo district.