Yumbe, Uganda: Four students were killed Wednesday morning in a horrific road crash in Odriga, Bileu Ward, Yumbe Town Council, along the Koboko–Yumbe Road, in yet another tragic reminder of escalating road safety concerns in the West Nile region.
The accident, which occurred at 07:10 am, involved a black Toyota Wish (registration UA 033 AK) driven by 20-year-old Wajarasu Sharif of Yumbe Town Council, and a Bajaj motorcycle (registration UG 5831C) ridden by 42-year-old Adiga Manisur of Giso Lobe Town Council.
North West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SP Collins Asea said preliminary findings show Sharif lost control of the vehicle while travelling from the Moyo direction, ramming into a pedestrian before crashing head-on into the motorcycle transporting two schoolchildren.
Asea said the violent impact caused the Toyota Wish to overturn several times, killing one pupil on the spot, while the others died shortly after.
Police confirmed the deceased as Andezo Faridah Ismail, 18, a Senior Three student at Aringa Secondary School, Majuma Queen, 6, Manisur, 4, and Tairani, 10, all pupils at St. Daniel Primary School in Yumbe district.
“This tragedy is attributed to reckless driving,” Asea said. “It is alleged that the driver lost control at Odriga, colliding with a pedestrian and the motorcycle rider who was transporting two pupils to school.”
The injured were rushed to Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the hospital mortuary for postmortem.
Police, led by the District Traffic Officer, documented the scene through sketches and photographs. Both vehicles were impounded and towed to Yumbe Police Station for inspection.
SP Asea urged motorists and riders to exercise heightened caution, especially on roads currently under construction, such as the Koboko–Yumbe–Moyo corridor. “Caution and patience are highly advised,” he said, warning that overspeeding and negligence continue to claim lives.
The police annual crime report for 2024 shows that an average of 14 people die in road crashes every day in Uganda, largely due to speeding, reckless driving, and poor road conditions.
The latest Yumbe tragedy adds to the growing list of fatal incidents affecting young learners on their way to school.
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