Police in Lwengo District are investigating a tragic accident on the Masaka-Mbarara highway that claimed the lives of three family members, leaving them burnt beyond recognition.
The incident occurred on Saturday at Kyabbogo Village, Kkingo Sub County, when a Fuso truck, registration number UBA 414P, collided with a Toyota Mark X, registration number UBP 460P.
According to eyewitness accounts, the collision led both vehicles to explode into flames. The Fuso truck, loaded with tiles, was traveling from Kampala toward Mbarara, while the Toyota Mark X, with four occupants, was heading toward Masaka City.
The victims, whose bodies were charred in the inferno, have been identified as 21-year-old Collin Kityo and 27-year-old Lauben Mwine, both from Sembabule District, and the driver, 35-year-old Vincent Lubega from Bukomansimbi District. The identity of the sole survivor from the Toyota Mark X was not available at the time of reporting.
The occupants of the truck, who sustained various injuries, were identified as brothers: 41-year-old Mahadi Kizito, 32-year-old Saad Kizito, and 21-year-old Wahab Kizito.
An eyewitness, Simon Kitonsa, suggested that the accident was likely due to excessive speed by the driver of the Toyota Mark X.
“If the driver of the saloon car was not speeding, maybe such lives could have been saved,” Kitonsa remarked.
Mr. Fred Ddumba, a relative of the deceased, revealed that the four had left Kyajubira Village in Lwengo District to spend the night at a nightclub in Masaka City ahead of a family event—a sister’s introduction ceremony—scheduled for Saturday. Tragically, they never reached their destination.
Southern Region Police spokesperson, Mr. Twaha Kasirye, stated that the traffic department is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.
“We are yet to establish what exactly caused this particular crash. Like we have always advised, motorists should avoid obstructions such as making phone calls, eating, and drinking while driving; these are some of the major causes of road carnage on our roads,” he said.
The 2023 Police Annual Crime Report shows a concerning increase in fatal road accidents, with the number of crashes rising by 30 percent to 4,179 in 2023, compared to 3,210 in 2022. A total of 528,025 road crashes were recorded in 2023, up from 456,993 in 2022.
