CONGOLESE MOTORISTS BLAMED FOR HIGH ROAD CRASHES IN ZOMBO

Members of Zombo District Boda Boda Association for a press conference at Skylux Hotel in Paidha town council.
 
By Mike Rwothomio
 
Zombo
 
The leadership of Zombo district boda boda association are up in arms against Congolese motorists, who they blame of reckless driving and riding, leading to infliction of life injuries and deaths on Ugandans.
 
To verify their claim,  the boda boda fraternity voiced strong  concerns about last week’s incident in which,  a teacher of Ukemu Primary School in Zombo district identified as Esau Opio, was reportedly knocked dead by a dizzying Congolese Motorist, at Tengu trading center, Zombo town council.
 
The motorist fled the scene to unknown destination and remain untraceable up to now.
 
The fraternity further cited an incident in which Alfred Odaga, an employee of immigration department in Zombo District, is still recovering from the grevious injuries he sustained, upon being knocked by an over speeding Congolese rider in Zombo District.
 
A sizable number of road crashes that happens as a result of reckless riding and driving by Congolese motorists remain unreported to Authorities, according to the leadership of Zombo District Boda Boda Association.
 
It's against this backdrop that the leadership want higher authorities to intervene, as part of pre-emptive measures in the lead-up to festive season, when accidents rate uncontrollably spiral.
 
In a press conference with members of Zombo Press Association at Skylux Hotel in Paidha town council, Fred Onerach, the District Boda Boda Association chairperson, expressed deep concerns over the rise in road crashes in the area, majorly orchestrated by Congolese motorists.
 
He attributed the incident to ignorance of most Congolese motorists who are totally green about Ugandan traffic rules, regulation and road safety.
 
"We are calling for an urgent meeting with security and leaders  from Uganda and DR Congo because these accidents rate is becoming too much , Opio Esau a teacher was knocked dead by the Congolese motorists plus many others who are killed or injured in the community without our notice,"  Onenarach said
 
According to the information from the Association's office, this month, one fatal accident was registered including 8 serious and 9 minor ones, most of which were caused by the Congolese motorists.
 
Wilson Owekngom, the coordinator Okoro constituency boda boda Association, identified hotspots for over speeding by Congolese motorists like Paidha-Padea road, Zombo-Atyak-Warr – Alangi- Aru route, stressing the need for urgent meetings.
 
Zombo boda boda leadership say most surviving accident victims mainly caused by Congolese motorist’s ends up footing their own bills, since their hit and run perpetuators remain untraced.
 
In a recent engagement with members of Zombo District Boda Boda Association at Paidha cultural center, the District Police Commander of Zombo Nelson Nahabwe, called for respect on the road by road users, attributing the increasing cases of road carnage in the area to reckless riding.
 
The hike in road crashes in Uganda is a stark reminder that road traffic crashes represent unforgettable human tragedies.
 
The 2023 police traffic report indicates that about 4,806 people died in road accidents in 2023 and the same report say  accidents claim lives of 13 Ugandans daily.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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