Seven members of the same family lost their lives on Saturday in a fatal road traffic crash that occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. along the Masaka–Mbarara Highway in Lwengo district.
The crash involved a Fuso Fighter truck (UBP 510V) and a Toyota Fielder (UBH 476W).
Preliminary investigations by police indicate that the driver of the Toyota Fielder, who was traveling from Masaka side, attempted to overtake a queue of vehicles and subsequently collided head-on with an oncoming Fuso truck.
All seven occupants of the Toyota Fielder died on the spot. The deceased include a man, his wife, their four children and the man’s brother.
“We urge all motorists to avoid reckless overtaking, especially at night when visibility is poor,” SP Michael Kananura, Public Relations Officer, Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety said.
He urged drivers to limit night travel where possible and ensure they are well-rested to prevent fatigue-related crashes.
Uganda tops road crash statistics in East Africa, with at least 14 deaths per day.
The police report shows that 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, an equivalent of 13 road deaths every day.
The World Health Organisation has ranked Uganda among the highest in Africa for traffic fatalities, with an estimated rate of 29 deaths per 100,000 people.
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