 |
| Residents of Kitubulu stare at the wreckage of the police patrol truck and an Isuzu truck. PHOTO BY MARTIN SSEBUYIRA |
Four police officers and a suspect yesterday died in a road accident after the police vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a collision with an Isuzu truck carrying sand near Ssese Gateway beach in Kitubulu, just outside Entebbe Town.
The accident occurred as the police patrol car reportedly tried to overtake another vehicle before colliding with the truck. Police later said the accident occurred at around 6am while witnesses placed the time of the fatal crash at some time between 7:30-8:00 a.m.
The deadPolice identified those who died in the crash as Geoffrey Bogere, the patrol commander, Moses Saloki, the driver, police constables Fred Mwekasize and Julius Balazewa, and the suspect whose name was not established by press time.Mr George Kilama, the other police constable on board the ill-fated patrol track was still fighting for his life at Mulago Hospital last night. All the affected constables are attached to Entebbe Police Station. The police were on route from Kitinda Village where they had rushed to rescue a suspect who was reportedly being beaten by an angry mob. They had moments earlier rescued the suspect from the mob and were rushing him to hospital.
The deadPolice identified those who died in the crash as Geoffrey Bogere, the patrol commander, Moses Saloki, the driver, police constables Fred Mwekasize and Julius Balazewa, and the suspect whose name was not established by press time.Mr George Kilama, the other police constable on board the ill-fated patrol track was still fighting for his life at Mulago Hospital last night. All the affected constables are attached to Entebbe Police Station. The police were on route from Kitinda Village where they had rushed to rescue a suspect who was reportedly being beaten by an angry mob. They had moments earlier rescued the suspect from the mob and were rushing him to hospital.
Officer-in-Charge (Investigations) Entebbe Police Bitaro Sentamu blamed speeding for the accident but said police personnel are usually left with no option but to drive fast during rescue operations.
Eye-witnesses attributed the accident to over-loading and speeding.
Eye-witnesses attributed the accident to over-loading and speeding.
Ms Sarah Nakazibwe, an eye-witness and resident of Kitubulu, said: “I was coming from home and saw a police pick-up with loud sirens, over-loaded and over-speeding and later, I heard a loud bang.”
“I was going to work when I heard a loud bang preceded by loud sirens,” another eye-witness, Kamya Kayanja Charles, a resident of Kitala, said.
“I was going to work when I heard a loud bang preceded by loud sirens,” another eye-witness, Kamya Kayanja Charles, a resident of Kitala, said.
The bodies were taken to Mulago Hospital for a post-mortem before burial arrangements are made.
Kitoro zone has been a dark spot for police as another police vehicle rammed into a building here in 2009, killing two officers instantly and leaving six others with critical injuries.
Kitoro zone has been a dark spot for police as another police vehicle rammed into a building here in 2009, killing two officers instantly and leaving six others with critical injuries.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
0 Comments