The Police have blamed human error on the Monday, March 11, 2024, car crash on the Tororo-Iganga Highway.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, the Police also confirmed that 10 people perished in the Monday night crash, which involved six vehicles.

Traffic and Safety Directorate spokesperson Micheal Kananura said the crash occurred at Kibimba on the Iganga-Tororo Highway.

“Ten people have died in a crash that involved six vehicles; motor vehicle registration number KBJ 156C/ZD 2621 Mercedes Benz Actros; KDY 526G/ZD4391 Mercedes Benz Axor; KDH Toyota Land Cruiser; UAV 597N Toyota Hiace; UAW 963 Toyota Hiace; and KAE 254C/ZA 5971 Tanker loaded with molasses,” Kananura said.

He added that the crash occurred on Monday at about 7:50 pm.

Explaining the cause of the crash, Kananura said “According to the initial report, five vehicles were all moving in the same direction towards Tororo except one vehicle registration number KAE 254C/ZA 5971, a tanker loaded with molasses, which was from the opposite direction heading to Iganga. [The driver of] Motor vehicle registration number UAW 963M, a taxi, decided to overtake the other vehicles".

"The driver of the taxi realised there was an oncoming vehicle when he was still overtaking and swerved to the left to give way not realising that the oncoming vehicle was a trailer loaded with molasses and was pulling the rear part. The rear part of the trailer hit the taxi, squeezing it against another trailer registration number KBJ 155C ZD 2621 Mercedes Benz, the trailer lost control overturned and caught fire. Ten people including eight passengers in the taxi, its driver and the driver of the trailer died on the spot,” he said.

According to him, all the bodies were taken to Bugiri Hospital mortuary pending postmortem while the five vehicles were towed to Muwayo Police Station pending inspection.

Videos of the crash shared on social media showed mangled remains of the passengers including minors still stuck in the metal wreckage.

“The tanker loaded with molasses is still guarded at the scene pending off-loading. Investigations have kicked off,” Kananura added.

According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report of 2023, the number of reported road crashes increased by 16% from 20,394 in 2022 to 23,608 in 2023. Out of the total crashes reported in 2023, 4,179 were fatal, 12,487 serious and 6,942 were minor crashes.

The report indicated that there were 24,728 casualties in 2023 compared to 21,473 in 2022 giving a 15% increase in the number of casualties.

The report indicated that most crashes were recorded in December with 2,131 crashes followed by July with 2,099 cases, whereas January recorded the least numbers with 1,787 crashes. Fatalities were highest in July with 457 and lowest in November with 332.