By Mike Rwothomio
A deadly head-on collision involving motorcycle riders on July 8th at Awasiyo cell, along Keri-Saliyamusala road in Keri Town Council, Koboko District, has left one person dead and three passengers seriously injured.
The deceased, who died on the spot, has been identified as Yakani Baba. The injured passengers—Bravo Bataki (19), Denaya Moses (50), and Bakole Ceassor (24)—all residents of Oraba Town Council in Koboko District, were rushed to Koboko Hospital for treatment.
The accident involved two motorcycles: one with registration number RDC 07AV688, a red Bajaj Boxer ridden by Yakani Baba, a resident of Awasiyo cell, Nyoke Ward, Oraba Town Council, and another with registration number RDC 07AU292, a red Senke ridden by Bravo Bataki, aged 19, a resident of Mozebondoko cell in DR Congo.
The West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, Josephine Angucia, stated, “This accident allegedly happened when the rider of motorcycle number RDC 07AV688 Bajaj Boxer was coming from the DR Congo side heading to Keri on the Ugandan side in Koboko and had a head-on collision with motorcycle number RDC 07AU292 Senke, which was coming from Keri side in Koboko.”
She added, “When this information reached the police, they visited the scene, drew a sketch plan, and rushed the victims to Koboko Main Hospital for treatment. Both motorcycles were parked at Koboko pending inspection by the inspector of vehicles.”
The deceased’s body was later conveyed to Koboko Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Police attributed the cause of the accident to reckless riding, and inquiries continue under TAR 061/2024.
This week, traffic police statistics indicated that 71 people were killed and 333 injured in road crashes over the past seven days, including 29 pedestrians and 28 motorcyclists. Careless overtaking and speeding have been major contributors to these crashes, according to traffic police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura.
