Three more people have succumbed to injuries, increasing the death toll from Thursday’s early morning road crash at Kakira Junction along the Jinja-Iganga Highway to five.
The victims were receiving treatment at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital following the crash that occurred after a taxi carrying passengers returning from overnight markets rammed into the rear of a moving trailer.
The trailer reportedly did not stop after the collision and continued with its journey, leaving the badly wrecked taxi at the scene.
Emergency responders rushed the injured to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, where doctors battled to save the victims.
Dr Pius Otim, the officer in charge of the hospital’s emergency ward, said 17 critically injured patients and two bodies were brought to the facility shortly after the crash.
“We received 17 critically injured patients and two bodies. Unfortunately, three more patients later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to five,” Dr Otim said on Thursday.
He added that three survivors remain in critical condition and will be referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
Among those who died was Birungi Robinah, a vendor at Jinja Central Market.
Mr Charles Busuulwa, the general secretary of Jinja Central Market, said many of the victims were returning from night markets where they earn their livelihoods.
“We rushed to the hospital after receiving news of the accident and found that several of the victims were our vendors returning from work,” he said.
Following the tragedy, Sheikh Badru Mpaso of Mafubira urged the government to strengthen emergency healthcare services by expanding emergency wards and improving their capacity to respond to mass-casualty incidents.
The damaged taxi was towed to Kakira Police Station pending inspection.