KARAMOJA — President Yoweri Museveni has attributed the high road carnage to the good roads constructed by the NRM government.
Museveni’s remarks are contained in a condolence message to the family of Ms. Lokel Mary, an NRM cadre from Karamoja.
Lokel, who was buried on Monday, February 3, 2020, was knocked down by a speeding motorcyclist at Nakawa in Kampala while departing the recent party’s delegates’ conference at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on her way to her daughter’s home. She later died from her injuries at Nsambya Hospital.
Museveni, who is also the NRM National Chairman, said he had been receiving updates on Lokel’s situation through the Secretary General, Ms. Kasule Lumumba and his personal assistant and senior presidential adviser, Mrs. Milly Babalanda.
“Though a strong move was made to save her life, this was not to be possible. We thank God for the gift of her life to Uganda and to the NRM,” Museveni said.
He described the deceased as an exemplary, committed and patriotic NRM leader who died in the line of duty.
“At 62, Mary was still very strong and useful. She will be remembered as a loyal, dependable and reliable cadre who loved her country and the NRM. She was one of the very few daughters of Karamoja that had made it to the public stage in a region where it is still increasingly difficult for women to perform in leadership roles. She was as such an inspiration and a role model for the young Karimojong girls and it is indeed such a big blow to the entire Karamoja sub-region,” he noted.
Reflecting on the cause of her death, Museveni said NRM has kept the promise of establishing “the much needed infrastructures including good roads”.
“However, we still need to grapple with the challenge of high road carnage which is an indirect effect of the infrastructure created. Parliament is nonetheless working to expedite passing of legislations that will control and eliminate the careless road users especially the boda boda so that we restore sanity on our roads”.
Parliament last week passed the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which will strengthen road safety management.
Museveni regretted that he would not attend Lokel’s burial because he was due to receive the visiting Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu. He promised to commiserate with the family during his forthcoming tour of Karamoja region. He offered Shs5million as condolences, which was delivered by Mr. Simon Kokoi, coordinator of the Office of the National Chairman, NRM in Karamoja.
Lokel was secretary for finance for the NRM Women’s League in Kaabong District.
Meanwhile, the president in his condolence message for Lokel invited all Karimojong to use the moment to come together to fight insecurity in their region.
“I have been briefed by security about the people who are trying to return Karamoja to spates of violence and insecurity. We will trace these and hunt them down as per law established”.
