Victims of the Saturday Karuma Bridge accident after a fuel tank rammed through the rail guards of River Nile into the falls have been identified.
They are Alex Ogwal, 35-year-old driver of the truck registration UAS 337M and resident of Lira City, and a pump attendant aged 21, all attached to Shine Energy Petrol Station.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Aswa River Region told URN that the duo was returning from Lira to Kampala after delivering fuel at Masindi Port.
The Saturday afternoon road incident along the Gulu-Kampala highway is only the latest of a series of fatalities at the bridge that was constructed in the 1960s.
Eyewitness say the fateful lorry’s breaking system failed forcing the vehicle uncontrollably to speed past a security checkpoint at the Karuma-Arua City T-junction through the steep slopes at the bridge.
Search efforts by the integrated highway police and marine divers is still futile following high volume of water at roaring falls and poor police equipment.
Karuma Bridge borders three districts of Kiryandongo, Oyam and Nwoya. It is located approximately 260 kilometres from Kampala and connects Kampala to the regional cities of Gulu in Acholi, Arua in West Nile and Lira in Lango.
Past Accidents at Karuma:
In 2000, a bus belonging to Gateway Transporters plunged into the River, and all 11 occupants perished.
In Feb 2017, a cargo truck UAP 531Sfrom DRC plunged into Karuma. Occupant, Nelson Eric survived the nasty incident.
In June 2018 Fuso truck UAS 994Y veered off the bridge. One person was swept away by the rapid falls.
In August 2007, a Nebbi bound tipper lorry registration number UAE 037D carrying 12 people, lost control and plunged into the fall. A vendor died while 11 people jumped off and sustained severe injuries.
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