8-Year-Old Boy Killed by Ambulance in Nakapiripirit as It Rushed Woman in Labour

An eight-year-old boy was killed after he was knocked down by an ambulance transporting a woman in labour to Tokora Health Centre IV in Nakapiripirit District. The deceased, identified as Kevin Cherop, a resident of Arengeseip Village in Tokora Sub-county, was pronounced dead on arrival at Tokora Health Centre IV, where he had been rushed for treatment.

The fatal crash occurred at about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday along the Tokora–Namalu Highway at Tokora Trading Centre. According to police, the ambulance, registration number LG0019-085, a Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to Namalu Health Centre IV, was transporting a pregnant woman requiring emergency medical care when the accident happened.

Police said that on reaching Tokora Trading Centre, the driver encountered a low-bed truck belonging to Polatyo Road Construction Ltd that was offloading iron bars for drainage works. While attempting to manoeuvre past the obstruction, the ambulance struck Cherop, who was also trying to bypass the truck.

Traffic officers led by Sgt. Kamukama Erasmus, together with officers from Nakapiripirit and Tokora police stations, visited the scene and prepared a sketch plan. Mt. Moroto Regional Police spokesperson Mike Longole confirmed the incident, saying the ambulance driver, Gabriel Loyan, had been issued Police Form 94 and released on police bond pending completion of investigations.

Longole said preliminary investigations indicate that reckless driving is the suspected cause of the crash. A postmortem examination was conducted on the deceased, while the ambulance has been impounded at Nakapiripirit Central Police Station pending inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles.

“We urge all motorists, especially emergency vehicle drivers, to exercise extreme caution when approaching trading centres and road construction sites. Slow down, obey traffic signs, and be alert for pedestrians,” Longole said. “We also appeal to construction companies to ensure proper signage and traffic guidance whenever road works are ongoing to protect lives,” he added.Police extended condolences to the family of the deceased as investigations into the crash continue.