Two killed, three injured in Mabira road crash, driver on the run

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BUIKWE — Two people have been killed while three others sustained injuries in a vehicle crash that happened in Mabira forest along the Kampala-Jinja highway.

According to police, the incident occurred at about 9:10pm on April 7, 2026, at Buwola in Buikwe district. It involved a Toyota Harrier registration number UBE 827M and an Isuzu ELF truck, registration number UBQ 353D.

Preliminary findings indicate that both vehicles were travelling from Jinja towards Kampala when the Isuzu ELF rammed into the rear of the Toyota Harrier.

“The impact reportedly forced the Harrier off the road and into a water channel, where it overturned. The crash resulted in the instant death of two female passengers in the Harrier, while three others, including the driver, sustained injuries,” Hellen Butoto, the Ssezibwa region spokesperson, said in a statement on Wednesday to New Vision Online.

The deceased persons have been identified as Hadijah Mutesi of Gayaza and Annet Kyokusima, a resident of Lubowa, both in Wakiso district.

The injured victims who were passengers in the Harrier include: 34-year-old Sumaya Nabakooza of Namungona in Rubaga division, Kampala, Annet Nakyega of Makindye division and 43-year-old Absolom Isabirye, the driver from Entebbe.

She said all the injured were rushed to Kawolo hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Isuzu ELF reportedly fled the scene immediately after the crash and is currently on the run. 

Wreckage of both vehicles remains at Mabira Police Station pending inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV).

Cautioning all road users, Butoto warned that “the Mabira stretch of the Kampala–Jinja highway is known for frequent accidents often attributed to speeding, reckless driving and poor visibility at night. We expect drivers to be more vigilant,” she said, adding that investigations into the crash are ongoing.

According to the 2025 annual crime report released by the Uganda Police Force, road crashes remain a leading cause of death in the country. Police registered a total of 322,441 cases in 2025, compared to 426,432 in 2024, which marked a decrease of 24.4%.  

The report further indicates that the majority of fatal accidents are attributed to careless overtaking, speeding and driver negligence. Night-time driving has also been identified as a major risk factor, contributing significantly to the number of fatal incidents.