BUSHENYI
Three people are nursing injuries following a road crash that occurred on Friday morning in Ishaka–Bushenyi Municipality.
The accident happened at Katungu along the Ishaka–Mbarara highway, involving a Sino truck, registration number UBJ 636E, and a Mitsubishi Canter, registration number UBR 911N.
Eyewitnesses say the Sino truck, which was travelling from Bushenyi towards Mbarara, reportedly lost control after hitting a pothole, causing a tyre burst, and rammed into the oncoming Canter.
The injured were identified as Mark, the driver of the Sino truck and a resident of Ruti, Mbarara City, Yusuf, the driver of the Canter, and his passenger, Derrick, both residents of Masaka District. They were rushed to a nearby health facility for treatment.
The Greater Bushenyi Region police spokesperson, SP Apollo Tayebwa, attributed the crash to suspected reckless driving by the Sino truck driver, although investigations are still ongoing.
“Police are investigating the incident, suspecting reckless driving as the cause,” Tayebwa said.
Police have urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads and to report potholes and other hazardous road conditions to the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, both vehicles were towed to Bushenyi Police Station pending inspection.
According to the 2024 Annual Traffic and Road Safety Report, Uganda records more than 25,000 road crashes annually, representing a 6.4% increase compared to 2023.
The report indicates that the crashes resulted in 5,144 deaths, an increase of 7%, alongside tens of thousands of injuries countrywide.
Regions with the highest number of fatal road accidents were Rwizi, Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) North, KMP East, KMP South, Albertine and Wamala. Each of these regions recorded between 303 and 425 fatal crashes in 2024.
The report further shows that vulnerable road users—including pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists, accounted for 84% of all road traffic deaths, underscoring the growing safety risks faced by non-motorised and two-wheeled road users.
