Editor
A serious motor vehicle accident occurred on September 28, 2024, at around 5:10 p.m. in Gasave Village, Nyakinama Sub-county, Kisoro District, along the Kisoro-Bunagana Road. The collision involved a black Toyota Land Cruiser V8, registration number RAF 698C, and a white UNHCR TATA bus, registration number UBE 621V.
The bus, driven by 50-year-old Gimmei Richard Moses, a resident of Rusiza Market, Southern Division, Kisoro Municipality, was transporting asylum seekers from the Nyakabande Transit Center in Kisoro. Among the asylum seekers were eight Congolese nationals: Hatekekiza Kamara, Musafiri Bikou, Ndashima Shinan, Mukunda Esiyeri, Gato Kizza, Bonakira Baryanguma, Denise Nyirakwize, and Twisinge Taburiya.
The Toyota Land Cruiser was driven by Karase, a Rwandese national, with another Rwandese passenger, Erick, on board.
According to police reports, the accident was caused by reckless driving on the part of the Land Cruiser. It was driving in the wrong lane when it met the oncoming bus. Despite the bus driver’s efforts to avoid the collision by swerving to his extreme left, the Land Cruiser remained in the wrong lane, resulting in a head-on collision.
Authorities visited and documented the scene. All victims were immediately rushed to Kisoro Hospital for medical attention. The vehicles were towed to Kisoro Central Police Station for inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV).
ASP Elly Maate, Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson, confirmed that the primary cause of the accident was the reckless driving of the Land Cruiser driver. Investigations are ongoing.
