Truck plunges in Ala stream (Arua district) leaving 23 dead.

On the fateful evening of 06/03/2012, a truck ferrying passengers mainly business men and women returning from a market in Zeu (Zombo District) and heading to Arua town plunged into Ala stream (Vurra Sub County in Arua) after a section of the bridge mainly built with timber gave way. Ala stream has been used to generate mini hydro power to supply Kuluva Hospital. As a result of the accident, the water in the reservoir was drained off to enable the well wishers rescue the survivors and remove the dead. This has also affected the power supply to Kuluva hospital.

The truck that was loaded with merchandise (beans, bananas, maize, timber e.t.c) had over 30 passengers. By 9.00 am (07/03/2012) the death toll had risen to 23 as the search for other victims continued. The dead were transported to Kuluva Hospital and later transferred to Arua referral Hospital Mortuary for identification by their relatives meanwhile the injured were rushed to Kuluva hospital for medical attention.

The poor state of roads and bridges has been one of the concerns raised in the Citizens Manifesto by citizens in West Nile and this calls for action by the relevant authorities before more lives are claimed.