Police Breaks Silence As Mbarara–Lyantonde Highway Kills Eight In Fatal Crash

By Frank Kamuntu

Eight people have been confirmed dead and one other seriously injured following a tragic road crash involving a Toyota Hiace passenger vehicle and a trailer at Kibega I Village along the Mbarara–Lyantonde highway.

According to police, the accident occurred at about 6:30pm on Friday when the Toyota Hiace, which was travelling from Mbarara towards Lyantonde, collided head-on with a trailer coming from the opposite direction.

Rwizi Regional Police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said preliminary investigations indicate that the crash happened after the driver of the Toyota Hiace attempted to overtake at a corner, resulting in a collision with the oncoming trailer that was properly in its lane.

“It’s alleged that the Toyota Hiace driver overtook from a corner and ended up colliding with the trailer that was coming from the opposite direction,” Kasasira explained.

All the deceased and the injured victim were occupants of the Toyota Hiace, police said. The survivor, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Authorities noted that the identities of the deceased and the injured had not yet been established by press time, adding that efforts to notify relatives and complete identification were ongoing.

Police attributed the fatal crash to reckless driving and once again urged motorists to observe traffic regulations, particularly avoiding dangerous overtaking, which remains a leading cause of accidents on major highways.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.