By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: Following the unfortunate and mysterious death of Pallisa district member of parliament Hon.Faith Alupo reportedly of Covid-19 on September 15, 2020, Parliament at the genesis of yesterday’s sitting paid tribute to her and other Ugandans who have died with in pandemic days.
It was from this moment of sadness that the Speaker Rt Hon Alitwala Kadaga raised a concern of death of a couple of Ugandans mostly in Busoga region over hundreds of stationed sugar cane trucks and lorries along Jinja Highway road.
Video: Fuming Speaker Kadaga Pinning Ministry Of Transport Over Escalating Reckless Deaths (Courtesy Video)
Kadaga revealed that long queues of trucks since may 2020, have caused a lot of deaths some registered while others goes unnoticed among these including Mr Stephen Waako, who was a candidate in the NRM primary elections in the race for Kigulu South.
According to the OC traffic, Kakira Division, Annet Nakibuuka, Waako was involved in an accident at Kakira, along Iganga-Jinja highway where he had a head-on collision with a sugar cane trailer reg no. UBE 761U that was coming from Kampala as he was coming from Iganga driving a Subaru, Reg No, UAJ 785J.
Another victim of this deadly road is Mr.Shaban Nkutu Muziransa a prominent lawyer, former Busoga Kingdom Attorney General and President of Badminton Association in Uganda who died instantly after his car rammed into sugarcane truck on Kayunga-Buikwe Nyaminya Road over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Kadaga puts all the blame for the above deaths to Ministry of Transport for failure to implement road transport laws.
She says that since most of these accidents happen at night, they could have been avoided if Ministry had implemented usage of reflectors on heavy trucks and lorries for better visibility.
“It is so disappointing that Parliament has occasionally asked Ministry of Transport to implement road laws and regulations usage of reflectors on heavy vehicles inclusive but they just keep their ears deaf as if people’s lives don’t matter.” Kadaga angrily said.
Kadaga noted that there is nothing much required other than making sure that all heavy vehicles have reflectors, ‘it seems to be something small but it has led to death of many Ugandans, Ministry of Transport should wake up!”
She added, “I now order Minister Katumba Wamala with urgent need to immediately implement and make sure regulations 5 (1) and 6 (1) of traffic and road safety 2020 are endorsed since traffic rules act 2012 make this requirement mandatory.”
