Mayuge, Uganda: Police in Mayuge District have launched investigations into a fatal road accident that claimed the life of an eight-year-old pupil and left two others injured along the Namayingo–Musita road in Mpungwe Sub-county.
According to Busoga East Police Spokesperson ASP Micheal Kasadha, the accident occurred on Friday morning at around 7:30 a.m. at Maina Village, when a Toyota Hiace (Taxi) registration number UBF 735Q veered off the road and knocked three schoolchildren who were walking to class.
“The deceased has been identified as Mutesi Hasifah, aged 8, while the injured have been named as Kaduli Hassan, 10, and Ikendeza Azulukan, all residents of Maina Village in Mpungwe Sub-county, Mayuge District,” Kasadha confirmed in a Friday statement.
Police said preliminary findings indicate that the vehicle, which was heading from Namayingo to Mayuge, lost control before plunging into a roadside trench after hitting the pupils.
“The driver, who is yet to be identified, lost control and knocked the children before the vehicle came to rest in the trench,” Kasadha explained.
The scene was visited by a team of traffic officers led by the OC Station and OC Traffic, and the deceased’s body was taken to Mayuge Health Centre IV Mortuary for postmortem. The injured children were rushed to nearby medical facilities, with one later referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital in critical condition.
Police have since launched a manhunt for the runaway driver, who fled the scene immediately after the incident. The vehicle has been impounded and parked at CPS Mayuge pending inspection as investigations continue.
At Maina Primary School, where the victims were pupils, shock and grief filled the air as teachers and classmates struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
Headteacher Ms Suzan Wanyana described the incident as devastating, especially as it occurred on the day of the P.7 briefing session ahead of the national examinations.
“The children were walking to school, one girl and two boys. The girl died instantly while one boy was referred to Mulago Hospital and another is still admitted at Mayuge Health Centre IV,” Ms. Wanyana said.
“It is heartbreaking to lose a pupil at such a time. We are praying for the injured children and extend our condolences to the bereaved family.”
Police have urged motorists to observe speed limits near schools and exercise maximum caution to prevent similar tragedies as investigations continue into the cause of the fatal crash.
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