By Abila Martha
The heartbreaking discovery of Lawrence Opesen, a student at Makerere University Business School (MUBS), who had been missing for over two weeks, has left his family and friends devastated. Son of Dr. Felix Ocom, Deputy Director of Mulago Institute of Public Health, Opesen’s body was tragically found in a Kampala mortuary.
The 21-year-old met his untimely demise in a road accident in Nakawa on April 20, 2024, as revealed by camera footage at Nakawa lights, which depicted him being struck by a trailer. The news spread rapidly through social media platforms, sparking profound sadness among those who knew him, mourning the loss of a talented young man with a promising future.
Opesen’s funeral arrangements include laying him to rest at his ancestral home in Bukedea District on May 9, 2024.
This unfortunate incident sheds light on the concerning rise in road accidents in Uganda. Statistics indicate an alarming average of 12 to 13 fatalities daily, with road crashes being the primary cause of death among young individuals aged 5-29. According to the Traffic Police, the year 2023 witnessed 4,806 Ugandans losing their lives in road accidents, marking a disturbing increase from the 4,534 fatalities reported in the previous year.