"We are trying to determine the cause of the
accident," spokesman Maj. Felix Kulayigye said after a truck transporting
more than 100 soldiers and their families crashed.
The accident took place on
Monday in the eastern part of Uganda,
Kampala, after
the truck hit the concrete side railing. The cause of the event is still
unknown, although it is said to be because of the poor conditions of both the
vehicle and the terrain: some local officials say the truck’s brakes may have
failed on incline.
The accident is one of Uganda's worst in recent history.
Due to the inhospitable terrain, improvised benches and high
number of passengers, more than 2000 people die annually because of accidents.
BBC reports that the road between Kapchorwa and Sironki in
the east of the country winds through the foothills of Mount Elgon, Uganda’s
highest peak, and its “hairpin bends” and “step gradients” make for treacherous
driving conditions.
“The soldiers and families had just left their station at
the border with Kenya,”
said the army spokesman.
Number of soldiers assigned t he borer had been doubled due
to Pokot tribes who cross into Uganda to steel cattle.8 such tribesmen were
killed trying do just that. The border patrols are not willing to take chances
for the raiders have become increasingly lethal as they have acquired modern
weapons.
Weapons have flooded the region following conflicts in Uganda, Sudan
and Somalia.
BBC reports: “The road between Kapchorwa and Sironko in the
east of the country winds through the foothills of Mount Elgon, Uganda's
second highest peak, and its hairpin bends and steep gradients make for treacherous
driving conditions.”