Uganda crash kills 72

A TRUCK carrying soldiers and their families overturned in eastern Uganda, killing 72 people and injuring 40 others, the army spokesman said yesterday.

The truck crashed Sunday after hitting a concrete barrier on the roadside 155 miles northeast of the capital, Kampala, spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye said. The death toll could rise, he said.

“We are trying to determine the cause of the accident,” said Kulayigye, adding that it was not clear how many passengers the truck was carrying.

In Uganda, trucks with makeshift benches are the usual means of transport over long distances. Road accidents are common where poor road conditions coupled with badly maintained vehicles make for precarious driving conditions.