Church holds special prayers for Masaka accident victims

MPIGI.

A section of Kampala –Masaka highway, which has been a scene of fatal accidents in the past one month, was Saturday morning closed for 20 minutes to hold special prayers for the deceased and victims of unending accidents on the highway.

The day’s activities , organised by the Catholic Church and Police in Mpigi District started at Kampiringisa village where 23 people including six family members perished in an accident on July 2.

Priests led by Rev. Fr Denis Kizito Ssebunya ,the episcopal vicar for Mitala Maria Vicariate cleansed the area and sprinkled holy water around the scene.
The ceremony, dubbed “Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims on Kampala-Masaka road” was also attended by relatives of accidents victims who also carried flowers in memory of the lives of the deceased.

Participants later converged at the Equator where special prayers were conducted.
In his message read by Fr Ssebunya, the Archbishop of Kampala Cyprian Kizito Lwanga sent condolences to the families who have lost their beloved ones in road accidents.
“The number of deaths is unacceptable and alarming .We all need to do something about this,” Lwanga said in the message.

He said the main reason why accidents happen is because people have limited knowledge and wisdom.

“If we knew a car had a serious fault in an engine, then we would not aboard it. Accidents occur when we become aware of the danger and it is too late to do anything about it,” he added.

In places where accidents have been multiple, Lwanga asked government to put road signs showing that they are gazetted blackspots to avert more accidents.

“I have also heard that some sections of the road were poorly constructed, contractors should stop doing shoddy work, be professional. I think government should take a step further and investigate this issue,” he said.

Fr Ssebunya noted that such a ceremony will be held annually.

A death trap
Over 40 people have perished in road accidents last month and most of the deaths were recorded on Kampala –Masaka highway and the latest occurred on Wednesday night at Kamutuuza village in Bukulula sub-county, about 12 km to Masaka Town, where nine people perished and 16 others injured.

Most of the accidents happened at a section between Maya-Katende and Nabyewanga Trading Center near Lwera swamp at the border of Mpigi and Kalungu Districts.