One Knocked Dead in Mbarara Motor Rally Accident
One person was killed in the Lato Milk Mbarara rally on Sunday while another was seriously injured.
The deceased has been identified as Benson Tumusiime, a boda-boda rider, and his passenger, Innocent Kabigumira.
The duo was knocked by National Rally Champion, Jas Mangat in Rubindi town along Mbarara-Ibanda Road. Tumusiime died on the spot while Kabigumira was rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in critical condition.
Martin Opus, the Rwizi Region Traffic Officer blames the accident on negligence on the part of the boda-boda rider. Opus says Tumusiime ignored all the warnings put in place by police and organisers of the rally to use the road cautiously because of the competition.
Hamidu Gombe, the Vice President Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda-FMU, says the death of the cyclist was unfortunate since they took all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of rally drivers and other road users.
Mangat emerged the winner of the Lato Milk Mbarara rally after clocking 1:10:12:5 followed by Arthur Blick Jr in the second position at 1:12:52:5. Hassan Alwi finished third at 1:13:57:4.