On the night of Friday 25th May, a terrible accident occurred at Nanda village in Kiryandongo district leaving 22 people dead and 13 injured. This was after a Gaga Company bus traveling from Lira to Kampala crushed into a tractor and a trailer carrying beer. Now cabinet that met on Monday approved stringent proposals to be affected by the Ministry of Works and Transport to address road carnage. These included; the installation of digital speed limiters in all commercial vehicles. The government's spokesman announced the measures during a press conference at the government's media center. " They were not regulated by law or policy and therefore they were very difficult to enforce. So the government is having the second knockout speed limit digital system.” Said, Ofwono Opondo – Executive Director, Uganda Media Center.
The government will also license all good vehicles and this process will require vehicles to fulfill certain regulatory requirements including inspection for road worthiness. “Much of the accidents in the country are born by two factoring. One; human error but also the roadworthiness of vehicles. So the government is trying to re-evaluate this position and enforce it.” Said, Ofwono Opondo – Executive Director, Uganda Media Center. The drivers of good vehicles will also be accredited and they will undergo periodic refresher courses and training so as to obtain graduate driving licenses. “Establish an automated driver’s test center or test centers. This system is intended to minimize human bias and to allow learner drivers undergo rigorous training and testing to confirm their competences to drive before issuance of driving permits.” Said, Ofwono Opondo – Executive Director, Uganda Media Center.
A few days after the Kiryandongo accident, President Yoweri Museveni declared three days of national mourning. He promised that government would give money to deceased’s families and survivors of the accident. State House controller Lucy Nakyobe delivered 3 million shillings to each of the survivors and 5 million shillings to each family of the 22 deceased people. Meanwhile, Ofwono Opondo who addressed the media on behalf of Frank Tumwebaze the Minister for ICT and National Guidance said the government would borrow 85 million USD approximately 320 billion shillings from the EXIM Bank of China to finance the National Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation Skills Enhancement Project. “To enhance skills development, and promote science, technology, engineering and innovation-based enterprises.” Said, Ofwono Opondo – Executive Director, Uganda Media Center.
