By Kenneth Wamatoyi
KALIRO
Kaliro RDC Aggrey Fred Bangu has expressed concern over the rising number of sugarcane lorries that have contributed to the loss of many lives in Busoga region in recent months.
He was speaking at the burial of Deo Mpigwa, the Agricultural Officer of Budomero Sub-County, Kaliro District, whose life was tragically claimed in a road crash on Friday evening, 15th November in Nasuti village along the Kaliro-Iganga road.
According to eyewitnesses, the late Mpigwa was riding a government motorcycle, registration number UG 3793A, when he collided with a stationary sugarcane lorry parked on the roadside without any visible warning reflectors.
Speaking to mourners at Namavundu village in Budomero Sub-County, Kaliro District, Bangu decried the poor mechanical condition of vehicles on the road and called for more discipline among road users. He also urged the Traffic Police to take stronger action.
“The community is in shock and mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant because of vehicles in poor mechanical condition, wrongly parked, and lacking reflectors to warn of the danger ahead,” said Bangu.
This tragedy follows another recent incident where at least six people were killed and eight others critically injured when a commuter omnibus, Toyota Hiace Reg. No. UBP 574J, collided with the back of a parked sugarcane truck on the Jinja-Iganga Highway at Kakira, Reg. No. UAF 333B, last Thursday.
The Kaliro road has become a high-risk area, with accidents happening frequently—at least one major accident seems to occur each week.
Michael Kasadha, the Busoga North Police spokesperson, stated that efforts are underway to address the high number of accidents. Patrols are being intensified to target vehicles in poor mechanical condition.
He urged road users to always observe road signs and avoid speeding.
