Denis Gakumba, 28, the driver who is alleged to have through reckless driving caused the death of former Health minister Dr Benjamin Henry Obonyo and three family members in a grisly January accident has denied the charges against him before the Gulu magistrate’s court.
Gakumba appeared yesterday before Gulu Grade I Magistrate Paul Owino. Gakumba, a resident of Kawempe in Kampala is facing nine counts in relation to the death of Dr Obonyo, his wife Kevina Obonyo and their two daughters. But he denied all the charges which include; four counts of causing death through reckless driving and five counts of causing bodily injuries.
Court heard that on January 2, this year, while driving a vehicle registration number UAU 249 K along the Kampala- Gulu Highway, Gakumba caused the death of four people through reckless driving.
After entering a plea of not guilty, Gakumba asked for bail which was granted after he paid a cash bail of 500,000 shillings in cash. Gakumba had until yesterday been in custody since January this year.
Magistrate Owino set May 19, this year as a date for hearing the case.
Dr Obonyo and other members of his family died instantly in a gruesome accident after a vehicle they were travelling in overturned on the Gulu-Kampala highway.
The accident occurred at St Thomas More in Bobi Sub-county, about 32 kilometres south of Gulu Town when the front tyre of the Super Custom van burst.
Obonyo, was a former minister of industry and later on health in the short-lived government of President Tito Okello Lutwa.
Two of their grandchildren identified as Annabel Lugon and Gabriela Lugon survived the road carnage with serious injuries.
Dr Obonyo, who was from the United Kingdom was travelling with his family to his home village in Madi-Opei in Lamwo District.
