Less than two weeks after the tragic death of youthful businessman and rally driver Rajiv Ruparelia in a road accident at the Busabala Flyover in Wakiso District, another accident occurred at the same location. On the night of May 17, a woman driving a Subaru Legacy reportedly lost control and crashed into the same concrete barriers that claimed Rajiv’s life on May 3 in Makindye-Ssabagabo.
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Bystanders rushed to rescue the woman from the mangled vehicle. According to Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura, the incident was minor, and no serious injuries were reported. “There were no critical injuries, but we are still gathering more details,” he said.
Rajiv’s fatal accident sparked a wave of public concern over road safety and contractor accountability. State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Mr Balaam Barugahara, appealed to the Ministry of Works and Transport to remove the hazardous barriers. “If funding for the road works hasn’t been received, I urge the Ministry to remove these deadly barriers. Someone else died there just a day after Rajiv’s accident,” he said during a vigil at Rajiv’s family home in Kololo on May 4.
Delayed Construction and Accountability Concerns
Inspector General of Government (IGG), Ms Beti Kamya, also weighed in at Rajiv’s memorial, emphasizing that road contractors must prioritize safety in their projects. “Constructing a road isn’t enough. Ensuring that it’s safe should be part of the responsibility,” she said.
In response, the Ministry of Works clarified that construction on the Busabala road project had stalled due to delayed payments. Minister Gen Katumba Wamala confirmed that the contractor, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), halted operations in October 2024 after facing financial delays.
CSCEC was initially contracted by the now-disbanded Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in 2021 to upgrade an 11-kilometre stretch of road, including the flyover and related infrastructure. The project had been scheduled for completion by January 2024.
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