Yet again another youthful and promising soul has been removed from our midst by the cruel hand of the devil operating on the Ugandan roads.
The Bukomansimbi Woman Member of Parliament Susan Namaganda has today morning passed on at Nakasero Hospital after she was involved in a grisly accident along the Kampala – Masaka Highway last night.
Just a few days ago, about six people lost their lives along the Hoima – Masindi Road after a trailer collapsed on them, while in Pallisa the Uganda Cranes team that was returning from Soroti to meet President Yoweri Museveni was also involved in an accident at Kamonkoli and in the process six lives were lost.
Indeed, it is quite disheartening to note that most drivers, mostly those of commercial commuter omnibuses (taxis), are clueless about road regulations and yet they take to the road like rally drivers, throwing all caution to the wind.
That noted, most blame for road carnage on our roads is attributed to poor roads and a laid back attitude by police to enforce regulations on the roads including drunk-driving, speeding and reckless driving, among other omissions.
However, it would be foolhardy for other Ugandans not to also apportion part of the blame on themselves: they just allow to be led to their graves by maintaining a deadening silence to the speeding antics of some wayward drivers, as if in readiness for an appointment to meet Satan.
In effect therefore, such abhorrent behavior on our roads by both the passengers and drivers is largely responsible for the hundreds of thousands of lives lost, yet we seem to have failed to deal with it decisively.
So, as we go through this festive season, it is only reasonable that we do all in our capacity to nip road carnage in the bud by stressing punitive action against those found to be errant on the roads.
Have a carnage-free Festive Season.
