Lukwago wants Kampala-Entebbe Expressway accidents probed

TRIBUTE | MUHUMUZA | LUKWAGO

KAMPALA - Kampala city Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, joined the media fraternity to pray for the family of and eulogise the late Edward Muhumuza, 32, who passed in a crash at Mpola on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway on Saturday. 

Muhumuza previously worked at Vision Group's Urban TV and was a news reporter for Nation Media Group's NTV Uganda at the time of his death. 

Speaking at the funeral service at Seventh-Day Adventist Church Kampala Central, Lukwago said Muhumuza was not only an outstanding journalist but was professional at all times in his work, adding that it was so saddening to lose him at such a young age when his family, budding career and services to the country are most required. 

He implored the Uganda Police to interrogate further the challenge with the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway in the face of increased road crashes and carnage. 

“The Government should allocate funds to road safety initiatives in the face of increased fatalities on the roads, especially on the new Kampala roads. The annual Kampala City Road Safety Report of seven deaths for every 100,000 people is alarming,” Lukwago said. 

Lukwago expressed his dismay at the lack of funding for road safety initiatives, citing the road safety initiatives in Kampala that are fully funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago bows at the body of the deceased journalist Edward Muhumuza at Seventhday Adventist Church in Kampala. (All Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)

The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, said many of the accidents on the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway are attributed to carelessness and over-speeding. 

“Muhumuza lost control of his vehicle registration number UBG 323S Passo and went off the road, knocked a signpost and overturned several times, killing him on the spot,” he said. 

“Overspeeding kills and I urge you to keenly follow traffic rules and regulations if we are to avoid fatal accidents on the road,” Onyango added. 

Muhumuza was also eulogised by friends and colleagues as a very brilliant and dedicated person who selflessly offered his services not only in media but also at his church.  

In his memory, the church dedicated the launch of Hope Channel Uganda, which Muhumuza championed before he died, in his memory. 

He met his death while travelling to Nkumba University where he was a student, for classes.