UPDF Soldier Killed in Mukono Motorcycle Crash, Two Injured

A tragic accident along the Mukono-Kayunga road claimed the life of a 30-year-old Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, Lt Cpl Kundo Obedi, as a motorcycle he was riding on collided with a vehicle at Mpoma Satellite station. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, also left two other individuals severely injured.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Mr. Patrick Onyango, the soldier was a student at Uganda Military Engineering College (UMEC) in Lugazi town, Buikwe District. Lt Cpl Kundo Obedi, identified by his service number RA 229084, was riding the motorcycle with two passengers when the collision transpired.

Reports suggest that the motorcycle attempted to overtake two vehicles before colliding with a Toyota Gaia driven by Abdel Muhassen Kamal, an Egyptian national. The impact of the crash was fatal for Lt Cpl Kundo Obedi, who succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The two passengers on the motorcycle suffered serious injuries and were rushed to Kawolo and Naggalama hospitals for medical attention.

Authorities have conveyed the deceased soldier’s body to Bombo military hospital, while the vehicles involved have been towed to Mukono police yard for further investigation.

Mr. Onyango, in his statement, emphasized the importance of road safety, urging all road users to exercise caution and consideration for others. He cited alarming statistics from the traffic accident report of July 2023, revealing 432 recorded crashes, with 97 classified as fatal, 202 as serious, and 133 as minor incidents. Among the fatalities were 42 individuals on motorcycles, including both passengers and riders, as well as 40 pedestrians.

The tragic loss of Lt Cpl Kundo Obedi underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in ensuring road safety and highlights the need for enhanced measures to prevent such accidents in the future.