By Swift Reporter
Two employees of Next Media Services have died and another sustained serious injuries following a fatal road crash involving a government vehicle along Entebbe Road in the early hours of Friday.
The victims have been identified as Badru Kasirye and Isaac Ndamagye, while entertainment journalist Brian “Makona” Ssemanda survived the crash and is receiving treatment at hospital.
According to Traffic Police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura, the accident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. near the Stabex fuel station in Namulanda.
Preliminary investigations indicate that a Toyota Hilux government pickup truck, registration UAS 976W, was travelling from Entebbe towards Kampala when its driver allegedly lost control while approaching the Namulanda section of the highway.
“The driver of the Toyota Hilux, registration number UAS 976W, which was travelling from Entebbe towards Kampala, allegedly lost control and drifted into the opposite lane while approaching the Stabex area at Namulanda,” Kananura said.
The pickup truck then reportedly collided head-on with a Toyota Allex, registration UA 779DE, in which the three Next Media employees were travelling.
Police said Kasirye and Ndamagye died instantly from injuries sustained in the impact, while Ssemanda was rescued from the wreckage and rushed to hospital for specialised medical treatment.
The three journalists were returning to Kampala after covering a celebrity boxing event featuring entertainers Chicken Chicken and Shawa when the crash occurred.
Traffic Police have launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the collision. Kananura said further information will be released once inquiries are complete.
The tragedy adds to Uganda’s growing road safety challenge. According to police statistics, the country records more than 25,000 road crashes each year, resulting in approximately 25,800 casualties and between 5,000 and 6,000 deaths, equivalent to an average of about 14 fatalities every day.
Government has in recent months stepped up road safety interventions, including strengthening enforcement through the Express Penalty System (EPS), mandatory inspection of commercial vehicles and stricter speed limit enforcement. Authorities have also announced plans to introduce a driver demerit points system and biometric monitoring for public service vehicle drivers as part of efforts to reduce road crashes.
Meanwhile, tributes have continued to pour in for the deceased journalists as colleagues, friends and members of the media fraternity mourn their loss.
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