The tight-knit community of Kihunda village in Sheema District was plunged into mourning on Monday afternoon following the devastating news of the untimely death of a teenage girl in a tragic road accident.
Abella Amutusimire, who had recently celebrated her academic success with the release of the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) 2023 results, had her promising future abruptly cut short.
The 17-year-old, residing with her father, Rev. Erisam Bishanga in Kyamuhunga, where he served as a priest at Kyamuhunga COU under the West Ankole Diocese, met her demise on her journey back from seeking admission to S.5 at Kibingo Girls School.
Amutusimire, a dedicated student at Kibingo Girls from S.1 to S.4, had just received her outstanding S.4 exam results with an impressive 32 aggregate, securing Division 1.
Moments before her tragic accident, she had been admitted to study Geography, Entrepreneurship, and Agriculture for S.5, but sadly, she would not live to fulfill her aspirations.
The administration of Kibingo Girls school, equally stunned by the news, could only issue a statement announcing the heartbreaking loss of the young student. At the time of the report, funeral arrangements had yet to be finalized.
SP Martial Tumusiime, the spokesperson for the Greater Bushenyi region police, provided details of the incident, stating that the tragedy occurred at Kitwe trading center in Rwentuha Town Council. Amutusimire was struck by a Sino truck while riding on a bodaboda (motorcycle) with registration number UEY 741L.
Tumusiime explained, “It’s alleged that today 19/02/2024 at about 1430/c the rider of motorcycle UEY 741L was carrying a passenger (lady) from Sheema side going towards Bushenyi.
On reaching Rwentuha trading center, the rider saw a Sino truck in the side mirror following them from behind, he swerved to his left to give way to it, and in the process, he knocked sand and the passenger fell off the motorcycle and died instantly.”
The rider, identified as Clinton Niwetwesiga, 24, who was also the brother of the deceased, was promptly taken to Kitwe Clinic for medical attention.
Following the incident, the police in Rwentuha led by Sgt Kenneth Mutange, swiftly responded, visiting the scene to gather evidence for ongoing investigations.
The body of the deceased was transferred to KIU Teaching Hospital for a postmortem examination, while the truck driver was placed under police custody pending further inquiries.
