Police have confirmed that seven people were on board the ill-fated truck that plunged into the fast-flowing River Nile at Karuma Bridge. 

The victims have been identified as 28 year old Derick Akena, 25 year old Sunday Opiyo Onyota, Wilfred Onekalit, 19 year old Moses Rwot Omiyo, 26 year old Alex Opiyo, 29 year old Jamal Okello, the driver of the truck, and an unidentified woman.

The accident occurred on Monday evening when a Fuso truck carrying 12 tonnes of maize grain veered off Karuma Bridge and plunged into the river.

The truck, registration number UAY 284Q, was travelling from Lelabaro Trading Centre in Omoro District to a factory in Kiryandongo District.

Initially, police reported that only three people were on board the truck and said the driver was allegedly drunk at the time of the incident.

However, Joel Kashule Ogwal, the Officer in Charge of Nwoya District Traffic Department says seven occupants were in the vehicle and that all are believed to have died.

He further reveals that the seventh passenger was a woman picked up between Minakulu and Kamdini in Oyam District.
Police on Tuesday morning recovered one body and two severed legs from the bridge deck, which were identified by relatives at Anaka General Hospital mortuary in Nwoya District. 

David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa West Police Spokesperson, says police engaged Sinohydro Corporation Limited to deploy a crane to retrieve the wreckage and determine whether more bodies were trapped inside the vehicle.

However, Yafez Labeja, a co-owner of the truck, says the operation faced challenges due to the absence of police marine divers.

By URN