It was grief and mourning at the City Mortuary near Mulago National Referral Hospital as relatives, friends and members of the Tanzanian community in Uganda gathered to receive the remains of 12 people who perished on Sunday night in a nasty accident on the Kampala – Masaka Highway. The accident occurred near River Katonga and a total of 13 people died while 8 sustained injuries. A funeral service conducted at the premises of the mortuary was led by a team from All Saints Cathedral Nakaseero. “Think about it, that the people that were at All Saints Cathedral on Saturday celebrated the wedding, you needed to be there to hear the songs they were singing and the dancing, that they are no more. It speaks to our lives.” Said, Rev. Michael Mukwana – Provost, All Saints Cathedral Nakaseero.
All Saints Cathedral Provost Michael Mukwana challenged the Police and politicians to lobby for more equipment to handle emergency situations like accidents. “Let’s stop politicking, let’s work on improving the social services in our country. I’m just thinking of the place where the accident happened, how many medical centers are there to have addressed the situation.” Said the All Saints Provost. The Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura blamed the numerous accidents especially on the Kampala – Masaka Highway on many vehicles in poor mechanical conditions. “Really how do you expect somebody on the checkpoint to know the mechanical state of a vehicle? If it was IGP on that checkpoint I would never know.” Said, Gen. Kale Kayihura - Inspector General of Police. The deceased were traveling back to Tanzania after attending a wedding in Kampala, the Bride was a Tanzanian and the Groom Ugandan. “You had no contribution to this, it just happened and life has to continue.” Said, Prof. Charles Ibingira – Father of the Groom.
A fleet of Ambulances containing the remains of the deceased transported them to Entebbe Airport from where they were flown back home to Tanzania. Now as these people took their last journey in life, mourners said it was not only the responsibility of the Police to avert such nasty accidents but also the drivers.
