Grieving crowds jam Hoima mortuary after Kigorobya lorry crash claimed 19

HOIMA - Huge crowds of grieving families are gathered at Hoima City mortuary to identify and claim the bodies of their relatives killed in the Tuesday Kigorobya road crash.

Police confirmed that 19 people died in the incident, which occurred Tuesday night along the Hoima-Buliisa road.

Majority of the victims were traders heading home from zonal market day.

According to Kigorobya town council LC3 chairperson Gerald Crystal Tulinde, the lorry was transporting traders who were returning from the Buliisa Auction Market when the tragedy occurred.

“The vehicle failed to climb a steep stretch and went off the road before overturning,” Tulinde said on Tuesday afternoon. “We have lost 19 people. Many others are injured and receiving medical attention.”

Tulinde described the incident as one of the worst accidents the area has witnessed in recent years and urged residents of Hoima, Buliisa, and surrounding communities to check on their loved ones.

“These were traders—mothers, fathers, breadwinners—returning home from a day of hard work. We are asking families who have relatives who usually travel to Buliisa Market to urgently verify their whereabouts,” he said.

No official list of the victims has been released yet, and authorities are still working to piece together the full picture of what led to the crash.

However, preliminary accounts point to mechanical failure or overloading as possible contributing factors, according to sources.