Tragic As 7 Family Members Perish As Car Plunges Into River Namatala

Tragic As 7 Family Members Perish As Car Plunges Into River Namatala

Seven members of a family died on Sunday morning after a vehicle they were in plunged into Namatala River in Budaka District.

The accident occurred at the Namatala River Bridge that separates Budaka from the Butaleja districts after the driver of the Toyota Ipsum vehicle reg. UAM 969 lost control and veered off the road.

The preliminary police report indicates that the deceased met with an accident while on his way home in Butaleja sub-district of Mpigi sub-district where he had gone to attend a wedding on Saturday.

Bukedi North Regional Police Spokesperson Mr Samuel Semewo confirmed the incident saying the driver lost control on the River Namatala bridge and drowned in the river with all the passengers.

“After the party on Saturday, they left Mpigi at around 9pm, back to Butaleja. Around 4:3 while they were on their way home, the driver lost control at the River Namatala bridge and drowned in the river with all the passengers,” he said.

He identified the deceased as; Pastor Kaalo Kefa, 35, resident of Nahamanya B village, Aron Kabingi Aron, 60, resident of Bunaminto village, Florence Kataike 50, Sarah Sanyu, 29, Esther Misibuka, 31, all residents of Butaleja and Grace Kisakye Grace, 22, a resident of Namirembe, Iki-Iki in Budaka District. The body of one identified only as 17-year-old Michael is still missing.

Mr Semewo said the police arrived at the scene and excavated the vehicle and the bodies, adding, however, that the driver of the vehicle escaped death after jumping out of the window.

“The bodies have been taken to IV Budaka Health Center for post-mortem examination and investigations are ongoing as more information is still being gathered,” he said.