Kenya-bound Congolese trucker dies on the steering wheel in Uganda's Kasese
Tumushime said Kambasu Kakitsa was driving a DRC-Kenya-bound trailer, registration CGO-6618AE19 and CG0268AE19, carrying 28 tonnes of cocoa when he reportedly fell ill and died on August 31, 2025, along the Kasese-Mbarara highway.
Rwenzori East region Police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime. (File photo)
By John B. Thawite
Journalists @New Vision
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A Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) driver’s would-be trip to Kenya ended prematurely when he collapsed dead on the steering wheel in western Uganda's Kasese district.
Rwenzori East region Police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime, on Monday, September 1, 2025, named the deceased as 52-year-old Kambasu Kakitsa, a resident of Bukuna, Butembo in DRC.
Tumushime said Kambasu Kakitsa was driving a DRC-Kenya-bound trailer, registration CGO-6618AE19 and CG0268AE19, carrying 28 tonnes of cocoa when he reportedly fell ill and died on August 31, 2025, along the Kasese-Mbarara highway.
Quoting Kakitsa’s turn boy, Tumushime said the Congolese national felt unwell and parked along the roadside at the Kasese municipality roundabout.
However, a few moments later, Kakitsa stopped responding, prompting the turn man to alert the locals, who subsequently contacted police.
The deceased was reportedly on unspecified medication.
A post-mortem at the Kasese Municipal HC III, where the body was taken, revealed that he died of cardiac arrest.
A source at the morgue told New Vision Online that hypertension drugs were also recovered from the deceased.
The source further said the deceased had an IV cannula on one of his arms, indicating he had been treated earlier in the day.
“There were blood clots in his heart,” the source added.
By press time Monday, Kakitsa’s body had been handed to his relatives for burial back home as arrangements were being finalised on how to handle the Kenya-bound 28 tonnes of cocoa.
Tumushime cautioned drivers against self-medication and driving, saying the practice was partly responsible for road crashes.
Medical literature cites several risks of such medication, including drowsiness and sedation, motor skill impairment and impaired cognitive function. It advises drivers to read medication labels for warnings about driving or operating heavy machinery, and avoiding driving after taking medication and waiting until the effects have worn off before driving.