A driver has been sent to prison by a court in Ntungamo district on charges of causing the death of Apollo Nyegamehe, also known as Aponye, a prominent businessman from Kampala.
The charges against Moses Buyinza Isabirye include causing death and bodily injuries through reckless driving. During the court hearing on Wednesday, Isabirye pleaded not guilty. His case will be mentioned in court on August 1.
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If convicted, Isabirye could face a three-year jail term according to section 108 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, which deals with reckless driving offenses.
The prosecution alleges that on July 6, 2023, at approximately 9:00 pm, Isabirye caused Aponye’s death by driving a Toyota Landcruiser with registration number UBF 300Z recklessly on the Mbarara-Ntungamo highway.
Aponye, who was in his 60s, died instantly when his vehicle collided with a parked lorry on the Mbarara-Ntungamo road while he was en route to Rukiga district.
Aponye’s death has raised concerns among Ugandan leaders about the increasing number of accidents in the country.
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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has instructed the Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, to make amendments to the Roads Act, 2019.
Vice-President Jessica Alupo stated that the President ordered the Attorney General to present proposals to Cabinet on how to address road accidents and reduce fatalities.
Despite existing measures such as the towing away of vehicles within two hours, visible signs for other road users, and the use of effective reflectors, the country continues to experience accidents, as mentioned by Alupo during Aponye’s funeral in Kitaburaza village, Rukiga district.
According to the Police Annual Crime Report 2022, the country recorded 20,394 road accidents in 2022, compared to 17,443 the previous year.
Reckless driving accounted for 61% of all accidents, resulting in 22 deaths out of every 100 crashes.
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