Two dead and six injured on Kampala-Jinja Highway

Ms Faridah Nampiima, the Traffic Police spokesperson, revealed that the tragic accident occurred at around 9pm at Kitigoma village, in Buikwe District, along the Kampala-Jinja highway.

Death cast its long shadow when a taxi registration number UBH 683E had a head-on collision with a Tata truck registration number UAT 279J.

“It’s alleged that the taxi, driven by an unknown driver, lost control and rammed into the truck from behind as both vehicles were heading towards Jinja from Kampala side,” Ms Nampiima said.

According to the traffic police spokesperson, two passengers in the taxi died shortly after being rushed to hospital in critical condition.

“Six passengers, who are yet to be identified, were severely injured and were rushed to Jinja hospital for treatment,” Ms Nampiima revealed.

Accidents have continued on Uganda’s roads despite the Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, continually urging Ugandans travelling to their upcountry homes for end of year festivities to do so with caution.

He, along with several other leaders, launched a campaign against recklessness on Ugandan roads during the December holidays.

Recently, however, a traffic police report indicated that at least 58 people were killed in accidents during the Christmas period in various parts of the country.

Reckless driving, according to the police, is still the number one cause of traffic accidents on Ugandan roads.

“We want to urge drivers, especially during this season when people are returning from villages, to be cautious on the road and drive carefully,” Ms Nampiima added.

Startling records from the police’s traffic directorate reveal that most road accidents in Uganda occur in December.

In 2020, for instance, 1,445 road accidents were recorded in only 31 days, indicating 46 road accidents per day.