The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has revealed that seven of 26 students attached to the Magmaga cantonment, remain in a critical state at the Jinja Regional Referral hospital following a nasty accident on the Jinja-Iganga highway.
The accident happened on Wednesday evening William junction in Kakira town council, Jinja district, while the students undergoing tourism and hospitality training at Crested Crane Hotel were headed to Magamaga military barracks in Mayuge district.
The accident occurred after a transnational trailer, registration number KDH 315A, transporting coils from Iganga hit the UPDF lorry registration number H4DF 2700, carrying students who were coming from their internship training. The transnational trailer’s heavy container load hit the UPDF lorry, pushing it off the road.
UPDF’s deputy spokesperson, Deo Akiki says all casualties are currently receiving medication both at Magamaga health center III and Jinja main hospital. He explains that seven are in a critical state but others escaped with minor injuries.
“We are managing, nine got major injuries, and seven are in critical state and at the Jinja main hospital while others are in our hospital at Magamaga. We are managing the situation at the moment to see what happens next, “he says
The Kiira regional police spokesperson, James Mubi says that, the accident resulted from over speeding and the trailer driver, Juma Masudi, is currently detained at Kiira East central police station, awaiting further prosecution.
The injured students were left with 20 days to finalize this semester’s internship training.