Kampala — An injured soldier is attended to in the helicopter before he was flown to Mulago for more treatment

THE death toll of the accident in Kapchorwa on Sunday has risen to 75, the army has revealed.

"Three more soldiers have died. We still have not identified six bodies," army spokesperson Major Felix Kulayigye said yesterday.

Three days after the accident, the army has still not released the names of the victims, arguing that their next-of-kin needed to be informed first.

Addressing Parliament yesterday, defence minister Dr. Crispus Kiyonga, put the number of injured at 56, much higher than was previously reported.

Of those, he said, 44 are soldiers and 12 women. The majority were taken to Rubongi barracks hospital in Tororo. Others are being treated at Mulago and Mbuya hospitals. The media have been barred from the hospitals.

The New Vision learned that some of the wounded are in critical condition. Among the injured treated at Mulago are S. Nabukonde, Emmanuel Bashaija, Deborah Omasi, Katole Mugisha, Emmanuel Beinomugisha, Patrick Ukumu, Alexandra Conce, Mustapha Mugga, Martin Eriani, Salongo Baliddawa and one Ekanya.

Meanwhile, The New Vision has established that the driver of the truck survived. Staff Sergeant Ngobi jumped out of the Mercedes Benz truck shortly before it rammed into the roadside cliff.

"I am told he jumped out of the truck before it crushed," Kulayigye confirmed.

The driver was airlifted to Mbuya military hospital complaining of chest pain. He had reportedly told the soldiers and their wives to get off the truck and walk down the cliff to facilitate the descent. Those who responded survived.

"The soldiers who heeded the advice are the ones who have been helping in the identification of the bodies," a source said.

Several MPs yesterday criticised the way in which the soldiers had been transported. They urged the defence ministry to purchase buses.

The MP for Kween county in Kapchorwa blamed over-loading and speeding.

"I was in Kapchorwa when the truck left town on Sunday afternoon," he told Parliament. "They passed me but the speed at which they were travelling was already fast for a long vehicle of eighteen tyres."

He said some soldiers were perched on the metal bars on top of the truck, singing, with one leg inside and another outside the truck. Others, he said, were seated in the double-cabin truck which was loaded onto the trailer.

"The trailer was not suitable. Such long vehicles when overloaded and moving at such a speed cannot negotiate corners well."

The Leader of the Opposition, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, said in other countries, soldiers had to be seated when travelling, and they were not allowed to exceed the capacity of the vehicle or sit on the railings.

Sarah Nansubuga called for the allocation of money to equip health facilities all over the country to handle emergencies of such magnitude, instead of transferring the wounded to Mulago, a process in which lives were being lost.

She called on the Ministry of Works to make road safety a priority, arguing that there were many blind spots, potholes and unmarked bends which needed urgent attention.

Christine Abia wondered how and when the families of the bereaved would get compensation given the harsh conditions their beloved ones had been subjected to.

Okello Okello said when he worked at the army headquarters, there was a regulation barring soldiers from travelling in the same vehicles with civilians or officers of higher rank.

Dr. Kiyonga, who gave a list of the dead according to districts, said the army had set up an inquiry into the accident. Col James Mugira, Deputy Chief of Military Intelligence, was appointed head of the investigation team.

Those found responsible of an "avoidable error" would be punished, Kiyonga said, while institutional adjustments would be made in the case of weaknesses within the system.

He commended the army leadership and the staff at Mulago Hospital for their quick and professional response.

The soldiers from the 19th Battalion and their families were travelling from Bukwo district to Amudat in Nakapiripirit district for another deployment when their truck rammed into a rocky embankment of a mountainous road in Kawowo sub-county, Kapchorwa district, reportedly due to brake failure.

The trailer, loaded with 88 soldiers, 26 women, six children, personal belongings and military equipment, also had on board a double-cabin pick-up truck.

According to the regional Police Commander Alfonse Mbuga, the falling pick-up might have killed more people than those who perished after the truck crashed. Mbuga said the trailer had a capacity of 60 people.