A 16-year-old female refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo tragically lost her life on Monday after being hit by a UNHCR vehicle at the Nyakabande Refugee Transit Centre in Kisoro Municipality.
The deceased, identified as Lydia Mbakemiye, was a resident of Kiwamgya in North Kivu Province, DRC.
According to police, the incident occurred in the afternoon within the compound of the Nyakabande transit centre. The vehicle involved, a white Isuzu FVZ truck with registration number UAU 728X and belonging to the UNHCR, was being driven by 57-year-old Kule Mosheni, a Mukonjo and resident of Mpondwe in Kasese District.
Police reports indicate that the truck was at the center to transport mobile equipment during a screening and registration exercise.
Mbakemiye was reportedly pushed into the rear wheels of the moving truck by fellow refugees as they lined up for registration, resulting in her being fatally run over.
Kigezi Region Police spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed the incident. He stated that ASP Micheal Kushaba and his team visited the scene.
The body was transported to Kisoro Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Meanwhile, the vehicle has been impounded at Kisoro Central Police Station pending inspection by the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV).
