An Open letter to the Minister of Works Uganda-Let Witness’ death be the last
Dear Minister
It is with regret that we announce the death of Ayebazibwe Witness (pictured with her twin) a 4 year old girl from Ruhanga Development School. Witness was hit bya car on 13th September 2011 and died instantly, she was nearly home but as she crossed the road a vehicle speeding through the village hit her and the driver failed to stop. Her mother is part of our women’s group that make and sale crafts and this happened right in front of her crafts stall!
Twins Ian and Witn
Witness was a bubbly and likeable girl with a bright future ahead of her and here is as a Flower girl at a wedding in the village only a few weeks ago. We are saddened by her passing.
Witness as a flower girl at a wedding last month
What makes this death more tragic is that this is the 8th child that has died on this stretch of the road and we understand that you have no plans to install traffic calming measures in this area. We would be grateful if you would please reconsider this decision for you see 2 years ago a father of these girls http://www.birdsontheblog.co.uk/our-girls/ was hit by a car in the same spot leaving 6 children without a father and a wife without a husband.
What will it take to improve Road safety in this par of Uganda?
To our friends and well wishers a fund has been set up in memory of Witness the details are here http://www.mycharitypage.com/InMemoryOfWitness&cp=1#donations
September 15th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
So sad, indeed, Ida. My thoughts go to Witness’s family and to the families of others who have died so needlessly.
I hope your voice is hear.
September 15th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Thank you Babs! It is a terrible waste of such a young and promising life
Ida Horner recently posted..Hunger in Somalia- the winners and losers
September 15th, 2011 at 9:27 pm
Beautiful letter Ida. So tragic that it has to be done though. Rest In Peace beautiful Witness xxx
September 16th, 2011 at 5:59 am
Thank you Sophie and good on for starting the memorial fund
Ida Horner recently posted..Business fights poverty in South Sudan
September 27th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
[...] But for the folk of Ruhanga SW Uganda (see photo above), a nice road through their village has mixed blessings so to say. Ruhanga is on the main road to Kabale, Congo, Rwanda and a major tourist attraction- MOUNTAIN GORILLAS. Having this nice roads means that folk can get to hospital easily and can take advantage of passing trade but the nice road has become a death trap and only a few weeks ago we lost Witness a 4 year old in a car accident. [...]