At least eight people are reported to have perished in a motor accident in Kiruhura District along the Kampala–Mbarara Highway.
Among those involved in the crash is Julius Kitone, a journalist working with NBS TV and Executive Director of Africa Climate Resilience.
According to Kasasira Samson, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Rwizi Region, the crash occurred at Kibega I Village along the Mbarara–Lyantonde Highway. He attributed the accident to reckless driving.
The crash involved two motor vehicles, registration number UBQ 016U, a white Toyota Hiace, and KDQ 668L/ZH 5133, a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer. Eight lives were lost, and one injured victim was rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for treatment. All the deceased were occupants of the Toyota Hiace.
“It is alleged that the Toyota Hiace was travelling from Mbarara to Lyantonde, while the trailer was heading from Lyantonde to Mbarara,” Kasasira said.
He added that the driver of the Toyota Hiace reportedly attempted to overtake at a corner and ended up colliding with the oncoming trailer, which was in its proper lane at Kibega I Village along the Mbarara–Lyantonde Highway, causing fatalities and serious injuries to the occupants of the Hiace.
“Four bodies of the deceased are still stuck in the vehicle, and efforts to retrieve them are ongoing. Efforts to identify the deceased are also underway,” he said.
