A fatal road crash in the early hours of Monday, 2026, has left seven people dead and 13 others injured after a passenger bus collided head-on with a trailer in Lapok Mor Village, Nwoya District.
The accident happened at around 1:15 AM and involved a bus belonging to Nile Star Coaches, registration number UBP 736U, and a Benz Actros trailer, registration SSD 040A/SSD 498C. The bus driver, Abugo Mandella Kadin, is currently in police custody as investigations continue.
Preliminary findings indicate that the bus was travelling from Arua when the driver attempted to overtake two vehicles ahead. During the manoeuvre, the bus crashed directly into an oncoming trailer, leading to a devastating impact.
Four passengers died instantly at the scene, while several others were critically injured and rushed to Anak Hospital for treatment. Three more victims later died from their injuries, raising the death toll to seven, while 13 survivors remain hospitalised.
Passengers who survived the crash told authorities that the driver had been speeding and driving recklessly for much of the journey. Some said they raised concerns during the trip, but their warnings were reportedly ignored by the conductor.
The crash adds to growing concerns over road safety in Uganda, where accidents continue to rise. According to the 2025 annual report by the Uganda Police Force, road crashes increased from 25,107 in 2024 to 26,044 in 2025.
Out of these, 4,602 were fatal, while 13,563 were classified as serious and 7,879 as minor. The number of deaths also rose by 4.7 percent, from 5,144 in 2024 to 5,383 in 2025. Serious injuries increased by 8.4 percent over the same period.
On average, at least 15 people lost their lives every day on Ugandan roads in 2025, highlighting the scale of the crisis. The report further shows that most accidents occur over weekends, particularly between Friday and Sunday, when traffic volumes are higher and enforcement is often stretched.