By At least five people have been confirmed dead, and 21 others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle collision that occurred on Wednesday evening at Mayanja Valley along the Kampala-Bombo Road. The crash, which involved nine vehicles and a motorcycle, has been described as one of the most severe accidents in the area in recent months.
According to Traffic Police spokesperson SP Kananura Michael, the accident involved several motor vehicles, including Toyota Hiace taxis, a Toyota Noah, a Toyota Corolla, a Toyota Sienta, and a Fuso Super Grande truck, as well as a Yamaha motorcycle. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the driver of the Fuso Super Grande, which was traveling from Kampala to Bombo, lost control while descending Mayanja Valley. The truck subsequently rammed into multiple vehicles and a motorcycle traveling in the same direction, resulting in the fatalities and injuries.
“The impact of the crash was severe, leading to the instant deaths of some of the occupants in the affected vehicles, including a motorcyclist. Additionally, 21 passengers, mainly in the Toyota Hiace taxis, sustained injuries,” SP Kananura stated.
Emergency response teams swiftly transported the injured victims to Mulago National Referral Hospital for urgent medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Mulago City Mortuary for post-mortem examinations. Meanwhile, the wreckage of the involved vehicles was towed to Kawempe Police Station for further inspection as investigations into the incident continue.
In light of the tragedy, police have urged all motorists to prioritize road safety by ensuring their vehicles are in optimal condition, adhering to speed limits, and exercising caution while driving, particularly on steep and accident-prone roads. “We call upon all drivers to observe responsible driving practices to prevent such devastating accidents,” SP Kananura emphasized.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that some of the victims included students who were returning home after attending evening classes in various schools within the vicinity.
The accident comes amid rising concerns over increasing road traffic crashes across the country. According to the recently released annual crime report, Uganda registered 25,107 road traffic crashes in 2024, marking a 6.4 percent increase from 2023. The number of casualties also rose to 25,808, reflecting a 4.4 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Statistical analysis from the police report indicates that most crashes occurred during the evening hours, particularly between 6:00 PM and 7:59 PM, when 3,780 incidents were recorded, including 894 fatal accidents. Sundays recorded the highest number of crashes (3,790), followed by Saturdays (3,765) and Mondays (3,686), while Tuesdays reported the lowest number of accidents at 3,330.
The report further reveals that collisions with pedestrians accounted for 19.5 percent of all road crashes, while rear-end collisions and side swipes constituted 16.2 percent and 17.7 percent, respectively. Head-on collisions contributed to 13 percent of crashes, while angle collisions accounted for 10.5 percent. Single-vehicle crashes represented 9 percent of all accidents, whereas crashes involving stationary vehicles, roadside objects, off-road obstacles, and animals made up a smaller percentage of the total.
As investigations into the Mayanja Valley crash continue, authorities are reinforcing calls for enhanced road safety measures to curb the increasing number of accidents and safeguard road users
