30 students injured in Fort Portal accident

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the bus registration number UAY 114X belonging to St. Maria Goreti Secondary School, overturned several times at a corner in Kitarasa.

The injured students were immediately taken to various medical units including Fort Portal Regional Referral hospital, Virika and Kabarole Hospital.

Their conditions are being closely monitored as the police conclude their investigations into the matter.

Recently, the Uganda police released a traffic report which stated that 338 accidents have occurred on Ugandan roads and out of these 57 have been fatal, 213 were serious and 113 “minor” between January 4 and January 30^th.

Over 4,921 traffic offenders have been arrested and issued with (Express Penalties Scheme) EPS tickets on various traffic offences at different checkpoints in the whole country during the said period.

It was also stated that these offences involved reckless driving 1,591, DMCs 1,728, Invalid Driving permits 678, speeding 292, 632 for not wearing seatbelts, among other traffic offences.

These figures dropped in the context of the number of accidents during the festive season where 58 died in road accidents. The dead were mostly motorcyclists, says the Traffic Police Directorate.

Nampiima said a total of 195 accidents were registered between December 23 and 26 alone.

And out of these accidents during the time leading up to Christmas and slightly after, 51 were fatal, 93 serious and 51 minor accidents.

“There were 248 accident victims during the (Christmas) period and out of these, 58 persons died and 190 sustained injuries. Of the dead, seven were drivers, 16 seriously injured whereas four pedal cyclists died four seriously injured and 17 motorcyclists died,” ASP Nampiima said.

The Traffic Police Directorate spokesperson went to detail how a total of 12 passengers on motorcycles died, whereas 33 were seriously injured.

She also noted that no passengers travelling in taxis died, although 14 were seriously injured.

According to ASP Nampiima, Traffic Police registered 171 accidents caused by reckless driving while pedestrians crossing or walking in the street or road unlawfully or without regard for approaching traffic, known as jaywalking, leading to hit and run accidents were 17.

“Although we registered these accidents, none happened at the known blackspots because we had deployed at those points,” she said.

“A total of 3070 traffic offenders were arrested and issued with Express Penalty Scheme tickets for various offences at checkpoints in various parts of the country. Of these 644 were penalized for reckless driving, 422 for driving vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions, 235 for having invalid driving licences, 164 for over speeding and 157 for not wearing seat belts among other traffic offences,” she added.

Previously, the Minister for Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, said government is going to be firm on the issue of over speeding. This is essential, he said, to ensure traffic accidents around the country reduce considerably. Fixtures such as speed limits, heavy punishments and other deterrents will soon be rolled out, he said.