Joshua Odong, a regular transporter along the Gulu-Kampala highway, observed that Karuma which was built in the 1960s during the colonial era is notorious for killing travelers because it does not have the requisite safety standards.
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Courtesy photo of Karuma Falls
Two people are feared dead after a speeding fuel truck en-route
to Kampala on Saturday lost control at Karuma Bridge and plunged into the fast
moving falls.
The tanker, registration number UAS 337M according to Police coming
from the Gulu Highway, hastily bypassed barricades mounted by police at the Karuma-Arua
City highway junction. It then sped off and veered off the bridge after its hydraulic
break system failed.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson
confirmed the accident, saying it occurred around midday. The truck belonged to
one, Busulwa Charles a businessman in Kampala.
Okema told URN in an interview that the highway integrated patrol
teams from Nwoya and Oyam Districts were at the scene trace the missing bodies
and control the traffic flow.
“Search results have not yet yielded.” Okema
said.
He further pointed out that higher authorities and marine
experts from police headquarters have been notified and are being awaited at
the Karuma Bridge to intensify the search efforts.
Police has appealed to motorists to ensure all motor vehicles plying
the country’s highways to be in sound mechanical condition and observe road traffic
safety rules to save lives especially when approaching bridges.
Joshua Odong, a regular transporter along the Gulu-Kampala highway, observed that Karuma which built in the 1960s during the colonial era is notorious
for killing travelers because it does not have the requisite safety standards.
Dozens of people have untraceably lost their lives at the bridge. The most recent of the several accidents also involved two occupants of Fuso
truck registration number UAS 994Y which plunged into the falls and their bodies were never retrieved.
The bridge that borders Kiryandongo, Oyam and
Nwoya Districts has notably killed more than 10 people since 2017 without their bodies and their trucks being traced.
Karuma, located approximately 260 kilometres by road North of
Kampala is considered one of the most dangerous Bridges in the country. It
connects Kampala to the regional cities of Gulu in Acholi, Arua in West Nile and Lira in
Lango.
Journalist
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
