Former KMP commander among 13 police officers injured in highway crash

Former Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Richard Ecega, is among 13 police officers who were injured in a road accident involving a police bus and a trailer along the Kyenjojo–Fort Portal Highway on Thursday (July 9).

The crash occurred at about 11:35 am at Katobire Hill in Kyenjojo district and has been registered under Traffic Accident Report (TAR) 61/2026 and Station Diary (SD) 06/09/07/2026.

According to preliminary police findings, a Toyota Coaster, registration UP 9572, carrying police officers from Kampala to Fort Portal, was climbing Katobire Hill when it was struck by a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer, registration UBB 349Y/UAG 919Q, which reportedly rolled backwards after failing to climb the hill.

Besides Ecega, the other injured officers are Superintendent of Police (SP) Godfrey Mwesigye, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sam Elungat, Haoli Seiko, Umar Kitaka, Johnson Kule, Edison Ayebare, Jude Odele, and Police Constables (PC) Godfrey Waluba, Samuel Emayu, Enid Amayo, and Josephine Ikoba.

The Coaster driver, Sam Arikod, and another occupant, Ivan Kato, were also injured.

Police said all the victims sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

Traffic officers led by the district traffic officer (DTO) for Kyenjojo visited and documented the scene before towing both vehicles to Kyenjojo Police Station pending inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV).

Preliminary investigations indicate that brake failure on the trailer is the suspected cause of the crash. Investigations are ongoing.