Jinja: At least six people have been confirmed dead and eight others severely injured in a tragic road crash along the busy Jinja-Iganga highway.
The accident occurred in Kakira village, Jinja District, in the early hours of Thursday, November 14, 2024, at around 4 a.m., when a Toyota Hiace (UBP 574J) from Mbale rammed into a stationary sugarcane truck (UAF 333B).
By press time, police had not yet identified the deceased or the other casualties, who were transported to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for medical treatment.
“The deceased have not yet been identified,” said SP James Mubi, the Kiira Region police spokesperson, who confirmed the crash.
Reports suggest that the commuter omnibus, which was reportedly carrying passengers beyond its capacity, was speeding before crashing into the back of the truck, which had been parked for mechanical repairs.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that two of the deceased were local councilors from Manafwa District who were traveling to the capital, Kampala, for business purposes. The councilors were identified as John Wangolo, representing Weswa Sub-County, and Godfrey Kabaale, representing Manafwa Town Council.
Police are on the ground investigating the cause of this deadly accident and are conducting comprehensive inquiries to identify all the victims.
Kakira remains a notorious accident hotspot, with multiple crashes reported in the area. At least one significant accident is reported in Kakira each month, a troubling trend that needs urgent attention.
