Two killed as soda truck crashes near Lugogo Cricket Oval

__________________

Police on Friday, February 28, confirmed two people had been killed following a fatal crash that occurred, at approximately 10:30 am at Lugogo Cricket Oval opposite 4th Street along Kampala-Jinja Highway.

Michael Kananura, the spokesperson at the Directorate of Traffic & Road Safety said the crash involved motor vehicles UBF 473B Fuso Fighter, UBF 215B Fuso fighter box body and motorcycle UMA 755BA.

He said those killed included a motorcycle cyclist and the person he had given a ride. The identities were not immediately established nor the owners of the vehicles and the soda load.

“The incident happened when the driver of UBF 473B, travelling from Kampala, lost control and collided with motor vehicle UBF 215M and the motorcycle, which were moving in the same direction. The Fuso Fighter overturned, landing on the motorcycle and instantly killing its rider and passenger,” Kananura said.

 He revealed that preliminary investigations suggest that the recklessness of the driver of UBF 473B, who is currently at large, caused the crash.

“Bodies of the victims were taken to Mulago city mortuary for postmortem examination. Vehicles involved were towed to Jinja Road Police Station as inquires kick start,” he added.

Kananura urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution while driving, particularly in urban areas, and to strictly adhere to designated speed limits.

While releasing the 2024 annual crime report, police said Uganda’s road crash fatalities reached alarming levels last year, with 5,144 people losing their lives—a 7% increase from 4,806 deaths recorded in 2023.

The traffic Police said they had now classified road safety as a public health concern, warning that the rising fatalities have crossed a “red line.”

Traffic Police director Lawrence Niwabiine said the country is witnessing a worrying trend in road crashes, with both fatalities and injuries increasing year after year.

The report was released on February 19, 2025, at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala by Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba.

“This is not a small number. It is a big number and these fatalities have now crossed a red line,” Niwabiine said while briefing the media during the joint security briefing at Naguru on February 24: “This should be treated as a public health concern in this country. We need to move at a strategic level and contain this situation”.

The total number of road crashes in 2024 stood at 25,107, marking a 6.4% increase compared to previous years.

These included 4,434 fatal crashes, 13,134 serious crashes, and 7,539 minor crashes.

The number of casualties from these crashes reached 25,808, up from 24,728 in 2023—representing a 4.4% increase.

Niwabiine noted that December recorded the highest number of crashes, with 2,445 incidents occurring during the festive season.

Serious injuries also saw an upward trend, rising from 16,736 in 2023 to 17,013 in 2024, reflecting a 1.7% increase.

The traffic Police director emphasized the categorisation of crashes, explaining that fatal crashes are those where a person dies on the spot or succumbs to injuries sustained in a crash.

Serious crashes involve individuals sustaining life-threatening injuries, while minor crashes refer to incidents where no persons are hurt, regardless of vehicle damage.

The report further analysed the annual trend of road crashes from 2022 to 2024, highlighting a consistent rise in fatalities, serious injuries, and minor crashes.

With the increasing toll of road crashes, authorities are now calling for urgent interventions to enhance road safety and prevent further loss of life.