By Spy Uganda
A devastating road crash in eastern Uganda has once again thrown the spotlight on growing concerns over road safety after five people, four of them from the same family, were killed in Mayuge District.
The fatal incident occurred at Girigiri Village along the Mayuge–Namayingo Road in Mpungwe Sub-county when a sugarcane truck reportedly ploughed into pedestrians and motorcyclists who had stopped by the roadside.
According to the former Mpungwe LC3 chairman, Mr Sulaiman Kato, the victims had parked two motorcycles after an Isuzu truck broke down in the middle of the road, forcing traffic to slow down.
Tragedy struck moments later when a Tata Mercedes-Benz truck approaching from behind allegedly developed brake failure. In an attempt to avoid colliding with the stationary Isuzu truck, the driver swerved and ran over the people gathered near the motorcycles.
“We have received the sad news of a sugarcane truck killing five people who had parked at the roadside. The deceased were with motorcycles that had stopped to make way for a truck that got stuck in the middle of the road,” Mr Kato said.
Among the deceased were Simon Lambaki, his wife, and their two children, making the crash particularly heartbreaking for the local community. The identity of the fifth victim had not yet been confirmed by press time, though officials said efforts were ongoing to establish it.
Two other individuals survived the crash but sustained critical injuries.
The Busoga East Police spokesperson, Mr Michael Kasadha, confirmed the incident, describing it as a fatal road crash under active investigation.
“It’s true there was a fatal road crash in Mayuge where five people died and two were injured. All of them were taken to Mayuge Health Centre IV,” Mr Kasadha said.
The bodies of the deceased and the injured victims were transported to Mayuge Health Centre IV, while the wreckage of the motorcycles and the truck was taken to Mayuge Central Police Station for inspection.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the crash, including whether mechanical failure was responsible.
The tragedy adds to Uganda’s troubling road safety record. According to the 2024 Police crime report, the country registered 25,107 road crashes resulting in 25,808 casualties. Traffic police have previously attributed many accidents to reckless driving, mechanical defects, poor road conditions and human error.
As families in Mayuge mourn their loved ones, the latest crash is likely to renew calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road safety measures, particularly along busy rural highways frequently used by heavy commercial trucks.
