Former Foreign Affairs Minister and retired General Jeje Odongo has survived a fatal road accident in Soroti City that claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl.
The accident reportedly happened at around 5:00pm on Saturday, November 7, along the Soroti-Lira Highway in Nakatunya, as Odongo travelled to his home in Orungo, Amuria District.
Odongo, who represents Orungo County in Parliament, reportedly sustained minor injuries, including an injury to his ear and bruises on one of his legs. The vehicle he was travelling in overturned during the incident.
His personal assistant, Pius Elubu, confirmed the accident and provided an account of how it happened.
According to Elubu, a girl riding a bicycle suddenly entered the road seconds after the General’s lead vehicle had passed. The driver reportedly attempted to avoid hitting her, but the incident happened too abruptly for the driver to prevent the collision.
“It’s true we got involved in a road crash when a girl, who was riding a bicycle, entered the road seconds after the general’s lead vehicle had crossed. Efforts by the General’s driver to save the girl failed because it was an abrupt incident, causing the vehicle to overturn,” Elubu explained.
The 15-year-old girl died in the accident, while Odongo survived with the reported minor injuries.
The incident has brought attention to the tragic consequences of road accidents, particularly for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
Further details about the circumstances of the crash, including any official police findings, had not been provided in the initial report.