Truck, taxi, motorcycle crashes leave trail of deaths in Busoga Sub-region
By Skika Reporter
A series of road crashes involving trucks, taxis and motorcycles has left at least ten people dead in Kamuli and Buyende districts over recent days, raising fresh concerns about road safety and the mechanical condition of vehicles operating in the Busoga Sub-region.
Police in Buyende District confirmed that five people died in a crash on April 12, 2026, at around 3:00 p.m. at Kabugudo along the Bukungu–Kamuli Road.
Busoga North Police spokesperson Samson Lubega identified the deceased as one-year-old Kayiriko and four-year-old Rahiya Nanjeso, both residents of Itamya in Kidera Town Council, alongside Dennis Pande, 24, and six-year-old Mirab Nabayigwa, all from Nawandala Village in Iganga District.
According to eyewitnesses, the crash involved a Tata lorry (UAW 966U) and a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle (UEZ 966W), which was transporting passengers between Iganga and Buyende.
Charles Matege, a witness, said the lorry developed a mechanical fault before the crash.
“The Tata lorry reportedly experienced a steering failure, causing the driver to lose control and collide with the motorcycle, resulting in the deaths,” he said.
Residents and local leaders have since called for stricter enforcement of roadworthiness standards for heavy trucks, particularly those transporting sugarcane.
“These sugarcane trucks are going to claim more lives,” said Rogers Magino, a resident of Nkondo Sub-county, urging government intervention on feeder roads and tighter regulation of truck operations.
Police said investigations into the crash are ongoing.
In a separate incident along the Jinja–Kamuli Highway near Mbulamuti, one person died on Monday morning after a taxi (UAY 420/W) collided with two motorcycles.
Police attributed the crash to reckless riding by one of the motorcyclists, who was reportedly carrying a load of onions.
In another earlier incident on April 10 along the Kamuli–Namasagali Road in Bulunda Village, four people were killed when a sugarcane-laden Fuso truck overturned onto a motorcycle.
The victims were identified as rider Grace Mudumba and three passengers: Lydia Nanzala, 38; Stephen Makayi, 40; and Charles Balinaine, 42 — all residents of Kamuli District.
Eyewitnesses said the truck suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control before overturning onto the motorcycle.
Police have urged drivers, especially those operating heavy commercial vehicles, to avoid overloading, speeding and reckless manoeuvres. Authorities warned that mechanical failures continue to significantly contribute to fatal crashes.
They also called for regular vehicle maintenance and stronger enforcement of road safety regulations, particularly on narrow rural roads frequently used by sugarcane transporters.
The latest incidents come amid growing concern over road safety in Uganda. According to the 2025 annual report by the Traffic Police Directorate, road crash fatalities rose to 5,383 deaths last year — an average of 15 people per day.
Authorities say stricter enforcement, improved vehicle inspection, and public awareness are critical to reversing the trend.
