A tragic road accident on Thursday afternoon at Kabalaga Hill along the Kabale–Mbarara highway claimed the life of a secondary school teacher and left thirteen others critically injured, raising fresh concerns over road safety during the Easter season.
The deceased has been identified as 40-year-old Innocent Agaba, a teacher at Kyogo Secondary School in Rukiga District and a resident of Kakuga Village, Rutare 1, in Muhanga Town Council.
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According to Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson Mr. Elly Maate, the incident occurred at around 2:30 PM when a Toyota Hiace minibus, registration number UBL 327M, overturned multiple times after the driver lost control at Kabaraga Village near a roadside market.
“The vehicle was en route from Kabale to Mbarara when the driver, who is currently on the run, lost control and rolled several times. One male adult died on the spot, and thirteen others—seven men and six women—were seriously injured,” Maate said.
The victims were rushed by ambulance to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for treatment. Police said their identities are yet to be confirmed due to the severity of their injuries. Agaba’s body was taken to the hospital mortuary for a postmortem.
ASP Wilson Mucunguzi, the traffic officer at Kabale Police Station, confirmed that the incident was registered under file number TAR 25/2025 and that the vehicle had been towed for mechanical inspection. Preliminary investigations suggest overspeeding was the likely cause, and Mucunguzi cautioned drivers to be extra careful, especially during the busy Easter period.
Eyewitness Alex Akankwasa blamed the Ministry of Works and Transport for poor road safety measures along Kabalaga Hill, describing the area as a known accident hotspot with sharp corners and inadequate signage. “There are either no signs or they’re too faded to help. Something must be done urgently,” he said.
The Kigezi region has experienced several similar incidents in recent months. In June 2023, a 58-year-old German tourist died in a crash at the same location. Earlier this month, on April 6, six Congolese nationals were involved in a serious crash on the Kabale–Kisoro road after their Toyota Noah failed to handle a bend in Kanaba Sub-county.
In a recent press briefing, Mr. Maate urged motorists to observe road safety guidelines, warning against overspeeding, dangerous overtaking, drunk driving, and driving while fatigued. He stressed the importance of ensuring vehicles are roadworthy before any journey.
Latest police data shows that reckless driving behaviors such as overspeeding (5,505 cases) and careless overtaking (5,657 cases) contributed to nearly 45% of all road accidents in Uganda last year.
In response to the increased holiday travel, law enforcement has promised heightened traffic monitoring, particularly in high-risk regions like Kigezi.
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