As expected always on Ugandan roads, another tragic incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in Hoima District when a police vehicle from Kikuube District, carrying over ten individuals, crashed along the Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi-Hohwa Road. The accident resulted in the deaths of eight people, including officers and murder suspects.
Among those killed were the retiring chief of the Kikuube District Directorate of Crime Intelligence (DCI), Charles Matubua Avinzo, three other officers, and three murder suspects. One suspect, Peace Tukamusaba, died along with her month-old baby in the crash, which reportedly happened when the driver lost control of the vehicle in Kiteegwa B Village, Kabaale Sub-county.
Authorities confirmed that the suspects were accused of murdering Apollo Mwesigye, a resident of Kyarushesha Village, Kabwoya Sub-county. The officers were on their way to the village in Kikuube District to reconstruct the crime scene at the time of the accident.
At the scene, traffic police worked to extract bodies from the wreckage, while locals gathered in shock. Eyewitnesses attributed the accident to speeding, although police have launched an investigation. This just embodies how police and security entity drivers manage themselves on the road. One sometimes is plunged into wondering whether police themselves can be victims of accidents given their behavior on public roads.
The Kikuube District Resident Commissioner (RDC), Amlan Tumusiime, expressed his condolences and emphasized the need for adherence to traffic rules. He also highlighted that the Albertine Region leads in fatal accidents, as reported by the police’s Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Kikuube Health Center IV, and the survivors were transported to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital.
List of Deceased:
- D/IP Charles Matubua Avinzo (DCI Kikuube District)
- D/AIP Gen Richard (in charge of the homicide desk)
- 49976 D/CPL Christine Cheruto (in charge of the gender desk)
- 66155 D/C Samuel Ojambo (CID personnel in the homicide desk)
- Mubarak Lwamahe (suspect)
- Martin Munyuza (suspect)
- Peace Tukamusaba (suspect)
- Baby (Peace Tukamusaba’s daughter)
List of Survivors:
- 34872 D/SGT Francis Bwango (2nd in charge of the homicide desk)
- 49119 PC Michael Omamu (in charge of CT)
- 73528 PC Abel Nyiringiye (CT personnel)
- 74377 PC Johnson Tumusiime
- 77435 C/DRV Raymond Nuwamanya (driver)
- 1223 SPC Apollo Turinoha
- Julius Kabagambe (suspect)
- Jonathan Kamugisha (suspect)
