A joyful traditional marriage celebration turned tragic on Saturday night when a vehicle carrying guests overturned in Chepkwatit, Kapchorwa District, leaving eight people dead at the scene and another succumbing to injuries later.
Eight more individuals were seriously injured and were rushed to nearby health centers for treatment.
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The crash involved a Toyota vehicle with registration number UBE 932N, which reportedly lost control along the treacherous Kapchorwa–Bulambuli road, known for its steep, winding nature.
All the victims, hailing from Busia District, were relatives and in-laws of Engineer Angura, who serves as the district engineer for Kween. They had travelled to Binyiny Sub-county to attend his introduction ceremony earlier that day.
Local authorities and police confirmed the deceased were taken to Kapchorwa Hospital mortuary, while the injured were treated at Muyembe Health Centre IV.
The accident occurred in the same notorious Chepkwatit area, where accidents are frequent due to the mountainous terrain. Just a week earlier, an Isuzu truck carrying cattle crashed at the same spot, killing eight people and numerous animals.
Both Chepkwatit and the nearby Towei slope are considered high-risk zones along the Kapchorwa–Mbale road, with road safety experts blaming the dangerous curves, steep inclines, and lack of familiarity among visiting drivers.
“There’s a warning sign at Sipi advising drivers to switch to low gear when descending, but many ignore it,” a local leader said, lamenting the repeated loss of life on the same stretch of road.
He urged caution, especially among drivers unfamiliar with the terrain, stressing the need for slow descents and proper gear usage.
The fatal crash has reignited calls for government action to enhance road safety across the Elgon highlands. Proposed measures include improved signage, enforcement of speed governor use, and driver education for those from lowland regions.
As families begin burial arrangements for their loved ones, the Kapchorwa community is once again mourning lives lost in what many say was a preventable tragedy.
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