By URN
At least eleven inmates and four prison warders from Masindi Government Prison in Masindi District are hospitalized at Masindi General Hospital following an accident. The injured inmates are Stephen Charles Oryem, John Ainebyona, Godfrey Tata, Brian Ankampulira, Innocent Kasamba, Muhammed Muwasami, Justus Arinaitwe, Godfrey Immanga, David Okello, Mathias Sande, and Moses Opar.
The injured warders are Sergeant Emmanuel Nkenkya, Corporal Felix Egaru, Lance Corporal Peter Emurwoth, and Peter Aurah. The accident occurred on Friday evening near Kamurasi Primary School along the Masindi–Kijunjuba Road in Masindi Municipality.
Information obtained by Uganda Radio Network (URN) indicates that the prisoners and officers were returning from collecting firewood while traveling in a Fuso lorry, registration number UAV 633E, when the accident occurred. The vehicle failed to climb a hill, rolled back, and overturned several times, injuring all occupants. Most victims sustained severe injuries to their heads, legs, face, and hands.
The driver, identified as Julius Atugonza, fled the accident scene immediately. Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the accident, saying the victims were promptly evacuated to Masindi Hospital, where they remain admitted. He added that the vehicle involved had been hired by the prison authorities to transport firewood and that a hunt for the driver is ongoing.
A health worker at Masindi Hospital, who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity, said the injured victims are responding well to treatment. URN was unable to obtain a comment from the Uganda Prisons Service as repeated phone calls to the Prison spokesperson, Frank Baine, went unanswered.
