By Frank Kamuntu
A tragic accident along the Masaka-Kampala highway claimed the life of a soldier in the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Friday morning. The incident, which occurred around two kilometers past Lukaaya, involved a convoy carrying Major General Paul Muhanguzi, the Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division.
In a statement, the UPDF confirmed that Gen. Muhanguzi was unharmed, as the accident involved his lead vehicle and not his own. Deputy army spokesperson, Colonel Deo Akiiki, expressed condolences for the loss of the soldier but reassured the public that the senior officer was not injured in the crash.
“It is his lead car that was involved in the accident. We lost a soldier, but Maj. Gen. Muhanguzi was unharmed,” Col. Akiiki stated.
At the time of the incident, Gen. Muhanguzi was traveling to Kampala. The convoy was on the busy highway when the crash occurred, but the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
The accident draws attention to the safety concerns along the Mbarara-Kampala road, a route notorious for its high-speed traffic and unpredictable road conditions. Frequent accidents along this stretch of highway have raised alarms about road safety and the need for improved infrastructure to reduce fatalities.
Maj. Gen. Muhanguzi, who was promoted in 2024 to command the 2nd Infantry Division, has been instrumental in ensuring security and stability in western Uganda. The UPDF has indicated that further details about the accident will be provided once investigations are completed.
As the military mourns the loss of one of its own, questions about road safety and preventive measures on the region’s highways are expected to remain a priority in the wake of this tragic incident.
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