Ministry denies responsibility of Nakawa train-car collision

By Francis Lubega

14^th July 2022

The Ministry of Works and Transport has denied responsibility for the recent fatal accident at Nakawa that involved a Mercedes Benz ML Registration number UBJ 053N and a locomotive on Sunday.

Three people identified as Norbert Tizikara 32, an Architect with Police Construction Unit and other two occupants died on spot after the car they were travelling in was hit by a train at the Level Crossing (railway) in Nakawa division.

Appearing before the Government Assurance Committee of parliament on Thursday, Officials from the Works and Transport Ministry led by the State Minister for Transport Fred Byabakama were grilled for neglecting the points where the railway crosses the roads.

MPs on the committee led by the Vice Chairperson Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu, the Kalungu East MP also faulted the Ministry for failing to plant signs posts or manual labor to stop cars from crossing over the railway which has contributed to persistent accidents.

However, Minister Byabakama noted that all the measures of mitigating such accidents are in place like road signs and trains hoot before reaching the meeting points of the railway and the roads but assured MPs that more will be put in place to limit such cases.

Meanwhile, Ssewungu has directed the officials from the Ministry of Works and Transport to present the documents concerning the details of the properties that once belonged to Uganda Railway Corporation, especially the land located at Nsambya in Makidye division and Luzira in Nakawa division.