BY SAMSON OKWAKOL
KAMPALA, Uganda-The Members of Parliament from Lang Sub-region under their umbrella association the Lango Parliamentary Group have asked government to develop a structured and concerted national strategy to curb road incidents.
This follows a tragic accident which happened on the night of Friday May 25th, 2018, in which twenty-two (22) people lost their lives and several others suffered severe injuries, in a gruesome road accident that occurred at a place called Nanda, in Kiryandongo District.
MPs from Lango want this particular incident be investigated and a rigorous inspection framework be instituted on all public service vehicles. They also demand that Government develops a national policy to manage and streamline the operations of public transport around the country.
The Chairperson Lango Parliamentary Group, Hon. Felix Okot Ogong a Member of Parliament Representing Dokolo South, in a joint statement said Government should urgently publish all the black spots on all major roads, and take remedial measure to mark and publicize them for easy recognition by road users.
Adding that The section of the road from Kamdini to Lira town be attended to urgently as it is presently in a deplorable state and risks causing more accidents. Due to heavy traffic to Kampala and Juba.
He said that Stringent surveillance and enforcement measure should be put in place by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Uganda Police force to deal with rampant violation of traffic laws/regulations and use of vehicles in dangerous mechanical condition.
Further, the Lango Parliamentary Group said government needs to address other road safety impeding factors including but not limited to bad road infrastructure, alcohol and drugs impairment, regulation of driving schools, use of safety gears (helmets, seat belts and child restraints) and over-loading of vehicles among others.
They note with gratitude the speedy, firm and responsible manner with which government handled this tragic incident.
Government was able to airlift the victims from Kiryandongo hospital to Kololo Airstrip, enabling the injured to quickly access Mulago National Referral Hospital and Nsyambya Hospital for specialized treatment.
