Six killed in Sunday morning road crash in Kyankwanzi
“The collision caused a fire which burnt the two vehicles. Six people died on spot of whom two were in the bus and four in the Fuso truck. Seven people were critically injured,” Kigozi said.
Kigozi said investigations into this accident are ongoing.
KYANKWANZI - Police on Sunday (March 1) said six people were killed at Kyakabuga village, Kyankwanzi district, on Kiboga-Hoima highway after a bus rammed into a charcoal truck and both vehicles burst into flames.
Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Region public relations officer, said the crash took place at around 4:00 am and involved a bus registration number UBQ 595G from Kampala heading to Hoima, which rammed into a Fuso Figher truck registration number UBF 541C from Hoima carrying charcoal.
“The collision caused a fire which burnt the two vehicles. Six people died on spot of whom two were in the bus and four in the Fuso truck. Seven people were critically injured,” Kigozi said.
He revealed that the bodies of the deceased were taken to Hoima Hospital mortuary while the injured victims were evacuated TO Kikonda Health Centre III for medical attention.
The deceased, Kigozi said, included: Gerald Muhumuza aged 40 years the bus driver and resident of Hoima West division; Matsukizo Linongola a 47-year-old business lady, Congolese by nationality; and four bodies in the Fuso truck all not yet identified.”
Rescue teams from Kyankwanzi and Hoima responded with a firefighter from Hoima, who helped put out the fire.
“The wreckage of the accident vehicles is still at the scene, and efforts to tow them away is being made,” he said.
On Sunday morning, police appealed to motorists using Kiboga Hoima road to exercise caution when they approach Kyakabuga in Kyankwanzi, as the road remains partially closed.
Kigozi said investigations into this accident are ongoing.
Grim picture
In February last year, the traffic and road safety directorate released its 2024 road crash statistics, showing that more Ugandans are perishing in traffic crashes daily.
The report showed 5,144 Ugandans died in traffic accidents in 2024, translating to 14 daily deaths. This was an increase compared to 4,806 people who perished in road crashes in 2023, and this translated to 13 road deaths every day.
According to Lawrence Niwabiine, the commandant traffic and road safety directorate, more road deaths were recorded between 6:00pm and 8:00pm whereby 894 Ugandans lost their lives. This was followed by deaths that occurred between 8:00pm and 10:00pm, which stood at 514 while the third highest road deaths occurred between 4:00pm and 6:00pm, which stood at 511.
“The highest number of crashes in 2024 (3,780) occurred between 18:00hrs and 19:59hrs. Similarly, fatal crashes (894) were also highest between 18:00hrs and 19:59hrs,” Niwabiine stated.