By KT Reporter
Eight Congolese refugees have died and 29 sustained injuries following a notice accident along Kisoro-Kabale road in Rubanda district.
The accident occured around 10:00 PM involving a mini bus registration number UBK 037G that was heading to Rwamwanja refugee camp in Kamwenge district from the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border of Bunagana in Kisoro district
The accident occured after the vehicle failed to break. The victims are from areas of North Kivu province, especially Rutshuru territory, one of the areas affected by the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel insurgency. One of the casualties only identified as Hakiza told our reporter that after the failure to brake, lights of the vehicle immediately went off and in the process it failed to negotiate a sharp corner while at Kamukirwa village, Nyarurambi ward, Rubanda town council.
Hakiza says that the driver of the vehicle is among the dead. Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says that among the dead are three female minors, three female and two male adults. Maate says that the 29 casualties were rushed to Kabale regional referral hospitals by ambulances from Rubanda and Kisoro districts for treatment.
Maate also says that bodies of the deceased were also taken to Kabale regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem. Maate says that preliminary investigations indicate that the vehicle overturned about 100 metres off the road.
He also says that the victims are refugees’ escapees from Rwamwanja refugee camp in Kamwenge district. Maate says that particulars of both deceased and causalities are not yet available.
This is not the first time Congolese refugees get involved in a motor accident along Kisoro-Kabale road. In July 2012, Gateway Company registration number UAH 745Y that was carrying transporting refugees from Kisoro to Rwamanja refugee camp overturned while at Muko village in Muko Sub County, then Kabale district (now Rubanda district) killing one refugee and injuring 20 others-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
