Three dead and several injured when a vehicle rammed into Kadodi dancers

A devastating accident that occurred along the Lwakhakha-Mbale road in Mbale District on Wednesday evening has claimed the lives of three people and injured many more.

A speeding vehicle, a black Toyota Harrier, rammed into a procession of Kadodi dancers at Nangwasi Cell, Nabumali Municipal Council.

According to eyewitnesses and local leaders, the driver lost control of the vehicle as it approached the group of dancers.

“Police responded immediately and transported the injured to the nearest hospital, where several are in critical condition,” said Mr Moses Kutosi, the chairman of LC3. Mr Kutosi confirmed that three people died on the spot, contradicting initial reports of two fatalities.

The police statement revealed that 13 people were seriously injured, with the deceased taken to Mbale town mortuary and the injured rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for medication.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident and investigating the possibilities of mechanical failure or driver error.

Mrs. Juliet Kakai, a resident, stressed the need for better safety measures to prevent future tragedies during Kadodi celebrations.

“We must ensure that our cultural events do not become deadly,” she urged.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Kadodi dancing, a popular and culturally important event in the region. Recently, there have been reports of Kadodi dancers vandalizing vehicles trying to pass through their processions.

The vehicles involved were taken to the Mbale Busoba police compound for inspection.

Past incidents
On September 3, 2022, at least five people were killed in a road accident in Sarajevo village, Muyembe sub-region of Bulambuli district.

In September 2022, a group of Kadodi dancers allegedly killed 29-year-old Gerald Chane and injured several others after chaos broke out in Namakwekwe area of ​​Mbale Northern City Division.

In 2006, seven people were killed instantly and 11 seriously injured when a bus rammed into a group of Kadodi dancers on the Iganga-Mbale highway.

In 2018, it was confirmed that ten people were killed and dozens injured when a truck rammed Kadodi dancers in Njeru, Buikwe District.

In 2012, ten people were killed when a commuter taxi knocked down Kadodi dancers in Mbale district.