Eight Dead in Bushenyi Accident

Paul Aruho

13 May 2011

Eight people have been killed in Kyamuhunga sub county along Bushenyi-Kasese high way when they were involved in a road accident that involved a Rwandan registred trailer (RAB666H) and a Toyota corolla (UAE196S).

The accident that occurred at around 7:40am claimed the occupants of all eight people that were travelling from Ishaka to Rubirizi.

The Bushenyi district traffic police officer Micheal Ensinikweri said that it took hours for the police and villagers to cut the wreckage to remove the dead bodies many which had been badly mangled.

Ensinikweri said that the Rwandan driver of the trailer was drunken beyong the alcoholic levels in his blood that is required for one to drive.

When Daily Monitor reached the scene at around 8:00am, the bloody scene was crowded with people, women wailing in shock and grief.

All the bodies that included a -12- year male juvenile had suffered extensive injuries which made individual identification difficult.

Police identified some of the dead as Vicent Tumwine, 42, a resident of Kabete in Ryeru sub county, Richard Besigye, 52, a resident of Rutoto, Nakayemba Juliet, 50, a resident of Kinchwamba. Other four including two male adults, one female adult and the juvenile were not identified. The bodies were taken to Lugazi health centre mortuary where police said the relatives will identify them from and take their loved ones for burial.

Tea pluckers were called in to help handling dead bodies with bare hands as police ran out of gloves.

The driver of the trailer, Joseph Nzeyimana, 44, was almost lynched by angry residents. Nzeyimana was only saved from the wrath of the residents by the quick arrival of the Police who had to use force to disperse the crowd. Nzeyimana had been headed to Hima cement factory in Kasese district to load cement.

Ensinikweri explained that Nzeyimana, who is a Rwandan national, erred in driving in the wrong lane. At the time of the accident, Nzeyimana is reported to have been driving on the right side of the road yet he should have been driving in the left lane. The residents also had to be deterred from setting the trailer ablaze.

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