Police in Kalangala are investigating circumstances under which a Sino truck driver knocked and killed a young girl on the Kalangala ferry as it was hurriedly trying to get on the ferry.

This incident happened at the Mugoye landing site in Kalangala at the Bugoma-Lukku pier in Mugoye sub-county, where ferries MV Ssese and MV Pearl owned by Kalangala Infrastructure Services Limited, dock. The deceased has been identified as Isabell Oneti, aged 8 years.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the Sino truck registration number UBK 814B was late and was driving so fast to reach the ferry since it was the last one for the day. However, it lost control and knocked over two boda boda motorcycles registration numbers UFE 431D and UGA 293S, a Fuso truck UBH 473T, and a rubbish collection truck UAW 459C until he slopped towards the ferry and knocked dead the 8-year-old.

They added that Oneti was coming from the ferry with her mother when she was knocked dead by the truck.

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The onlookers also revealed that such accidents usually happen at the landing site due to bad driving and overspeeding by drivers of these motor vehicles, despite several warnings.

’’This accident would not have happened if the driver of the Sino truck was not careless and had reached in time because he killed an innocent child due to his negligence,’’ the eyewitnesses disclosed.

While being interviewed by journalists on August 27, 2024, Muhammad Nsubuga, the Southern Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed this incident and revealed that investigations are underway.

Nsubuga also revealed that the Sino truck that caused the accident was towed away from the crime scene and taken to the police.

’’All motorists using high-traffic areas like roads and ferry boarding points should follow traffic regulations; therefore, this accident was caused by recklessness and overspeeding,” Nsubuga disclosed.

This is not the first time a lorry has had an accident on the ferry because, more than 12 years ago, a lorry that was carrying sand slipped off the MV Bukakata into Lake Victoria, highlighting the need for stricter safety measures and driver accountability.

As investigations continue, Nsubuga stated that it is crucial for local government and transport authorities to implement stricter regulations and enforce penalties for dangerous driving behaviors because the community’s safety depends on a collective effort to mitigate such incidents.