At least 19 people have died and more than a dozen others injured after a lorry carrying traders overturned along the Hoima–Buliisa Road in western Uganda on Tuesday night, according to police.
The truck, a Fuso Fighter with registration number UBB 639W, lost control near Hillside Secondary School in Kigorobya Sub-county. Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene as the vehicle, reportedly struggling to ascend a small incline at Nyabagwa Ha’kisaru, suddenly rolled backward and overturned, killing many of those on board.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
The victims were mainly mobile traders from Hoima City who often travel to rural auction markets to buy goods such as clothes and shoes before returning to sell them in the city’s open-air Hardware Market. They were reportedly seated atop merchandise in the truck—an all-too-common practice despite repeated safety warnings.
“We saw bodies everywhere,” said one witness who rushed to help. “The truck just lost control and crushed people as it rolled back downhill.”
By Wednesday morning, grieving families had begun gathering at the Hoima City Mortuary in Isaka-Kijungu village to identify loved ones. Heavy rain fell as relatives waited to collect the bodies, many overcome with shock.
Some mourners told local reporters they recognized friends or family members in graphic videos shared overnight on social media. “I saw my friend Denis in one of the videos. I can’t believe it,” said one distraught man.
Police confirmed that 19 people died on the spot while 13 others sustained injuries. Several of the injured remain in critical condition in hospital.
One trader, Gorret Kimuli, told journalists she narrowly escaped the tragedy by opting to travel by taxi instead. “That decision saved my life,” she said.
Others were not as fortunate. Husana Agaba, a resident of Hoima West Division, said she lost two relatives in the accident. “I’ve identified one body so far. The other is still missing,” she said.
Stuart Kugonza, from Kigarama Cell, mourned the death of his best friend Anthony, an electronics trader. “He was more than a friend—he was like a brother,” he said.
The tragedy has sparked outrage among community members, who accused authorities of failing to enforce transport safety laws. Fuso trucks are frequently used to ferry passengers in unsafe conditions, often overloaded and poorly maintained.
“Such accidents are preventable,” traffic police said in a statement. “Drivers must ensure their vehicles are mechanically sound before setting out.”
Uganda’s annual traffic report for 2024 showed a rise in road accidents, with 25,107 crashes recorded—an increase of 6.4% from the previous year. The report also indicated that 25,808 people were killed or injured in those incidents.
Investigations into Tuesday night’s crash are ongoing.
Also Read: Amama Mbabazi’s Daughter Wanted Over Unpaid Shs 450m Loan
