A tragic incident has cast a somber shadow over the ongoing National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries in Soroti District after one person lost their life and several others sustained injuries in an accident involving a campaign vehicle for Soroti County MP and NRM flag bearer aspirant, Hon. Patrick Aeku.
The accident occurred on Wednesday evening in Kamuda Sub County, where a large crowd had gathered to welcome Hon. Aeku’s team and reportedly receive cash handouts, a common occurrence in the high-stakes local campaigns.
According to eyewitness accounts, the vehicle was moving slowly through the excited crowd when it suddenly overturned, causing panic and chaos.
Eyewitness Paul Eupa, a local boda boda rider who was at the scene, narrated that the incident happened in a split second.
“People were cheering, running after the vehicle and some even climbing on it. Suddenly, it tilted and overturned. One person fell off and was tragically run over by the vehicle’s tires,” he said.
The deceased has been identified as 26-year-old Samuel Okello, a resident of Kamuda.
Authorities confirmed that Okello died on the spot due to the injuries he sustained after being crushed by the campaign vehicle.
Soroti District Police Commander (DPC) Moses Olang confirmed the details and noted that police had retrieved the body and transported it to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Hon. Aeku himself was reportedly not in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
The campaign team had been dispersing after a day-long campaign trail in Kamuda and surrounding areas when the accident occurred.
Benard Eweru, chairman of Hon. Aeku’s campaign team, confirmed the tragedy and expressed deep sorrow on behalf of the entire campaign.
“While our campaign event in Kamuda had concluded successfully, it is deeply unfortunate that one of our supporters succumbed to injuries in an accident involving our vehicle,” he said.
Eweru added that the campaign team is in touch with the bereaved family and is taking steps to support burial arrangements.
“We are devastated by the loss. We are also offering medical attention to those who sustained injuries, and we shall ensure that the families involved are not left to deal with this tragedy alone,” he said.
At least four other people are believed to have been injured during the incident, though their names and conditions had not been disclosed by press time.
Soroti Regional Referral Hospital confirmed receiving injured persons linked to the campaign event, and sources at the facility said most of the injuries were caused by crowd stampedes and falling objects.
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