Lira: Kenyan trailer kills Mota-Engil worker, leaves 12 badly injured

A fatal road crash involving a Kenyan trailer and a company coaster belonging to Mota-Engil has left one person dead.

Twelve others – all employees of the road construction company – were seriously injured on the Lira-Soroti highway.

They were rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for emergency treatment following the collision. The vehicles involved were a Kenyan-registered Mercedes Benz Actross semi-trailer with registration KCM 0711 A / ZB 1076 and a white Mota-Engil coaster bus with registration UBN 572 P, driven by a company driver, Otim Patrick.

The driver of the Kenyan trailer fled the scene immediately after the collision and remains at large, police have said.

According to SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Public Relations Officer, one person was confirmed dead at the scene. The deceased was identified as Olobo Fabias.

The collision occurred on the evening of August 27, 2025, at Corner Amac along the Lira-Soroti highway at approximately 8:00 pm.

The survivors have been identified as: Auro Rehema, Omongot Lawrence, Omedi Quinto, Kasula Ronald; Ayuli Denis.

Others are Echeng Benard, Acio Monica, Alele Richard, Acheng Charity; Okalebo Jethrom, Akullo Patricia and Opiny Joshua.

Preliminary police reports indicate that the incident happened during heavy rain while the Mota-Engil coaster was traveling from the Soroti direction carrying its workers.

The Kenyan trailer, coming from the opposite Lira direction, allegedly veered off its lane and collided head-on with the coaster.

“The impact forced both vehicles off the road,” SP Okema added. “A team of traffic officers visited the scene immediately.”

SP Okema revealed that police preliminary findings point to reckless driving by the driver of the semi-trailer as the primary cause of the unfortunate event.

“We are urging the driver to turn himself in at the nearest police station.

In light of this tragedy, police are appealing to all drivers and road users to exercise extreme caution during rainy conditions.

“Motorists are advised to reduce speed, ensure their vehicles are in good condition, and if visibility is too poor, to safely park by the roadside until the weather improves to prevent such carnage,” SP Okema urged.