UPDF car knocks train at Kinawataka fatal accident

Four Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) officers Thursday survived death after an army lead-car they travelled in was smashed by a commuter train at a level crossing at about 7:19am in Kireka, Kampala.

The vehicle is attached to the convoy of the deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen Peter Elwelu. Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) head of operations, Abuberkerer Ochaki said, ‘‘the train which was carrying over 700 passengers from Namanve in Wakiso District to Kampala, collided with the UPDF vehicle after its driver ignored endless hooting from the train amidst red-flag warnings from the railway level crossing guard.’’

Locals claim the accident followed attempts to flee by the soldiers in a UPDF Land cruiser H4DF 2180 after it knocked dead- an unidentified city ‘boda-boda’ rider that was transporting a woman who obtained severe injuries in Bweyogerere.

First, eye witness and area resident Tina Nansikumbi says, the speeding servicemen nearly knocked a traffic officer in Kireka as they allegedly fled pursuant angry boda-boda riders following the earlier fatal incident.

‘‘They (soldiers) hoped they would traverse the level crossing before the train passed but it (train) hooked the bull bars of the car, dragging the pickup on the rails.’’

According to Nansikumbi, ‘‘two soldiers who occupied the bench seats in the back of the pickup truck jumped off, sustained injuries and then certainly vanished as the car got involved in the accident.’’

Another eye witness claims that the driver also knocked a woman carrying a baby around Bweyogerere. For over one hour, civilians and the police department of fire and rescue mounted operations to disentangle from wreckage- the bleeding pair of soldiers in the driver’s cabin with their legs nearly cut off.

‘‘The fire and rescue services was able to rescue two UPDF soldiers albeit, in very critical condition. The two, both privates, have been taken for treatment,’’ police said in a statement.

UPDF deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu Thursday afternoon confirmed this development informing that the victims are at Nakasero Hospital in Kampala.

Another eyewitness who preferred anonymity noted that the ‘‘four passengers narrowly survived death because the train was slowing down towards a railway station near Kireka market to offload some commuters.’’