American missionary killed as train rams Pajero in Kampala
According to the Police, Savana, who was seated in the front passenger seat, died on arrival at Rubis Hospital on Lugogo Bypass. The surviving passengers were injured and are receiving treatment.
“The train pushed the vehicle for about 200 metres after the impact,” according to Richard Aloro, of Jinja Road Police Station, who filed the incident.
KAMPALA - A woman identified as Savana Gardener, an American missionary working with Baptism Mission Uganda, has died after a passenger train rammed into a Pajero Mitsubishi.
The crash was at the Wankoko Railway Crossing along Spring Road in Kampala on December 19, 2025, evening.
Police said the crash occurred at about 5:25pm when the Kampala–Mukono passenger train hit the Pajero, registration number UBF 582X, which was attempting to cross the railway line.
“The train pushed the vehicle for about 200 metres after the impact,” according to Richard Aloro, of Jinja Road Police Station, who filed the incident.
He added that “preliminary findings suggest the driver failed to observe and comply with the hand signals given by a railway Police officer who was manning the crossing.”
The Pajero was carrying four occupants: Gardener Mathew, Savana, and two children, all US citizens attached to the Baptism Mission NGO working in Uganda.
According to the Police, Savana, who was seated in the front passenger seat, died on arrival at Rubis Hospital on Lugogo Bypass. The surviving passengers were injured and are receiving treatment.
“Our scene of crime team from the Railway Police visited and documented the site. Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing,” Aloro said.
The train was travelling from Kampala towards Mukono at the time of the incident.
Police said the suspected cause is careless driving and failure to adhere to railway safety instructions.
In a statement released on Friday, the family said, “the family of Matt and Savannah Gardner, missionaries in Uganda, East Africa. On Friday, as the Gardner’s were travelling on one of the main streets in Kampala, a train crossed the road and hit their vehicle. Savannah went to Heaven instantly.
The two sons are completely fine. Matthew sustained internal injuries and is presently in the hospital. Please pray for Matthew to heal quickly, and for the two sons, Jedidiah (age 4) and Mason (1 year old). We praise the Lord that there is a large group of BIMI Africa missionaries there who are assisting them at this time”.
The family asked anyone who would like to help the Gardners financially to send an offering to BIMI and designate it “Matt Gardner” (Account #1623).