Kagadi Local Govt Driver Arrested for Knocking Protester Dead

Stephen Tibihikira, a Kagadi district local government driver, is in custody at the Kagadi central police station for knocking a protester dead on Monday morning. He was arrested on Tuesday morning in Kagadi town.

He is accused of knocking dead Magezi Tumuhaise 25, a boda boda rider and resident of Rwenzori cell in Kayanja parish, Mahirirwe sub county of Kagadi district. The incident happened on Monday morning.

Information obtained by Uganda Radio Network-URN indicates that Tumuhaise who was knocked dead was part of a group of residents of Kagadi who were protesting the sorry state of Muhorro-Ndaiga Road.  

The residents armed with placards blocked the Muhoro-Ndaiga road with stones and logs demanding for immediate rehabilitation of the road that they say has become a death trap especially for boda boda riders. The road has not been worked upon for ten years.

The situation on Monday compelled the Kagadi LCV Chairperson Yosia Ndibwami to rush to the area where the residents were protesting to quell the situation.

However, a vehicle registration number UG 6998M in which the district Chairperson was traveling in being driven by Tibihikira that was reportedly speeding knocked dead Tumuhaise who was among the protesters. 

After the incident, the driver took off to an unknown destination and abandoned the vehicle at the scene.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson has confirmed to URN that the driver has been tracked and arrested on Tuesday morning from within Kagadi town and whisked to the Kagadi central police station where he is currently detained. 

He adds that the vehicle that was involved in the accident has also been impounded by the police and it is currently parked at the Kagadi police station.  

Akugizibwe Magezi, the deceased’s brother has appealed to the police to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure the driver is charged accordingly for justice to prevail.