What you need to know:
- The court did not grant him bail during the proceedings.
A taxi conductor accused of causing the death of a 20-year-old woman in a road crash along Entebbe Road has been charged and remanded.
Ismail Ssekidde, 40, appeared before Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, presided over by Senior Principal Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko, and denied five charges, including causing death by reckless driving, following an accident near the Fire Brigade headquarters at Clock Tower in Kampala.
The prosecution alleges that Ssekidde was driving a white Toyota Hiace taxi, registration number UBP 344Y, on July 19, 2026, when he knocked a motorcycle carrying Shanita Nanyonga, resulting in her death.
The accused is also charged with causing an accident by reckless driving, careless and inconsiderate use of a motor vehicle, driving without a valid licence and failure to report an accident.
According to the charge sheet, the motorcycle, a red Haojue with registration number UMA 764GW, belonged to Ivan Nsumba.
The prosecution alleges that Ssekidde drove the taxi without due care and consideration for other road users, causing the fatal accident and damage to the motorcycle.
He is further accused of driving without a valid licence for the class of vehicle he was operating at the time of the incident.
The prosecution also alleges that after the accident, Ssekidde failed to report it in person to the nearest police station or to a police officer as soon as reasonably practicable, as required by law.
Senior State Attorney Allan Mucunguzi, who led the prosecution, told court that investigations had been completed and asked for a hearing date.
“Inquiries in the matter are complete. We pray for a hearing date,” Mucunguzi told court.
Magistrate Jatiko subsequently informed Ssekidde of his right to apply for bail and asked whether he had sureties to support his application for release.
The accused responded that his sureties were available.
“Yes, they were around,” Ssekidde told court.
However, when the magistrate asked him where the sureties were, he repeated that they had been around without providing further details.
The court did not grant him bail during the proceedings and remanded him until November 4, when the case is expected to come up for hearing.
The charges arise under the Traffic and Road Safety Act, which provides for offences relating to reckless driving, careless use of motor vehicles, driving without a valid licence and failure to report road accidents.