Editor
A joyous occasion took a devastating turn on Sunday at Kakabada cell along the Rukungiri Kanungu Road in Rukungiri District as a collision involving two motorbikes and a Toyota Fielder resulted in the tragic death of 23-year-old Akampurira Richard.
The incident occurred at approximately 07:00 am when the Toyota Fielder with registration UBP 170G, driven by 29-year-old Kiiza Regan of Kyoga, Wakiso District, was en route from Rukungiri Town to a wedding ceremony. The procession was followed by a red Bajaj with registration UFJ 593X, ridden by the now deceased Akampurira Richard, and another red Bajaj with registration UFY 227J, ridden by 22-year-old Tukwasibwe Edward.
As the vehicles approached the church junction, tragedy struck. The Toyota Fielder made a right turn to enter the church premises when the Bajaj UFJ 593X, traveling at a high speed from behind, collided with the front tire of the car. The impact of the collision caused the Bajaj UFJ 593X to veer off and collide with the oncoming Bajaj UFY 227J. The vehicles and motorbikes all tumbled to the roadside in a chaotic scene.
The rider of the Bajaj UFJ 593X, Akampurira Richard, sustained critical injuries and was promptly rushed to Doctors Case Clinic. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries, marking a tragic end to the day’s events.
The victims include the young passenger Akatwijuka Raymond, a 9-year-old resident of Kagarama ‘B’ cell, Kyatoko Ward, Eastern Division, Rukungiri Municipal, who was on one of the motorcycles involved in the collision.
Local authorities and law enforcement responded swiftly to the scene. Corporal Oketayot and the investigative team visited and documented the incident. A postmortem was conducted, and Akampurira Richard’s body was subsequently handed over to grieving relatives.
The vehicles, including the Toyota Fielder and the two Bajaj motorcycles, are currently impounded at the police yard pending further inspection by the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV). Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident are ongoing. The community is left in shock and mourning as they come to terms with the loss of a young life in the midst of a celebration turned tragedy.
