Fourteen people were killed when a truck carrying sand collided head on with a commuter taxi on a major highway in central Uganda late Monday, police said.
The collision happened at Kamuwunga Trading Centre along the Lwera swamp section of the Masaka Kampala Highway in Kalungu District. Four other people survived with injuries and were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
Police said the commuter taxi was traveling from Kampala toward Masaka when it struck an oncoming Sino truck. Investigators believe the truck crossed into the opposite lane after its driver attempted to avoid road humps installed because of ongoing road construction.
The impact locked both vehicles together. Police said the truck pushed the taxi backward for about 30 meters before coming to a stop.
The taxi driver, Abdul Karim Ssembatya of Masaka City, died at the scene along with 13 passengers. Authorities later transferred the victims to the hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations.
The truck driver fled immediately after the crash and remained at large Tuesday as police launched a search.
Traffic investigators examined the scene before both vehicles were removed to the Lukaya Police Yard for mechanical inspection.
Police said preliminary findings point to reckless driving as the suspected cause of the collision.
The Associated Press confirmed that at least 14 people died in the crash, while Ugandan authorities continued efforts to locate the truck driver. Local outlets, including The Observer Uganda and The Independent Uganda, reported that investigators believe the truck entered the taxi’s lane during road construction.
Police investigation focuses on truck driver
Police said investigators are working to establish the full circumstances that led to the collision while searching for the truck driver, who left the scene before emergency crews arrived.
Authorities identified the truck as a red Sino vehicle carrying sand. The driver remains the subject of an active manhunt.
Traffic officers from Masaka East, the Kalungu District Police Commander and other officers examined the crash scene, documented evidence and supervised the removal of the wreckage. Both vehicles were taken to the Lukaya Police Yard for inspection by government vehicle examiners.
Officials said preliminary evidence indicates the truck crossed into the opposite lane after attempting to avoid road humps installed because of ongoing road construction.
The collision occurred at about 11:40 p.m., a time when visibility is reduced and heavy commercial vehicles continue to use one of Uganda’s busiest transport corridors.
Victims and survivors
Police confirmed that the taxi driver and 13 passengers died in the crash.
The victims included residents from several districts across Uganda, among them Omoro, Kyotera, Masaka, Luwero and Kyegegwa. One police officer and an employee of the Coca Cola plant in Namanve were also among those killed.
Authorities said several victims had not been immediately identified because of the severity of the crash.
Four people survived with injuries. Emergency responders transported them to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, where they remained under medical care.
Red Cross personnel assisted with rescue operations before the bodies were transferred to the hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations.
Emergency response
Police quickly secured the highway to allow rescue workers to remove victims trapped inside the wreckage.
The force said preserving evidence at the scene remains essential as investigators reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the collision.
Officials urged motorists travelling through the Lwera swamp section of the Masaka Kampala Highway to exercise caution because construction work continues along portions of the route.
The Associated Press confirmed that authorities are investigating the crash while searching for the truck driver who fled after the collision. Uganda’s Observer and The Independent reported that investigators believe reckless driving remains the leading cause under examination.
Road safety remains a major challenge
The latest tragedy adds to a growing number of deadly road crashes in Uganda, where speeding, reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and hazardous road conditions continue to claim hundreds of lives each year.
The Associated Press noted that serious traffic accidents remain a persistent problem across the country and much of Africa. Authorities frequently attribute fatal crashes to excessive speed, dangerous overtaking, overloaded vehicles and deteriorating road infrastructure.
The crash follows another major road disaster in July, when a school bus returning from an educational trip overturned in eastern Uganda, killing at least 20 children and one adult. The incident renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved vehicle safety standards.
Safety advocates have repeatedly urged authorities to strengthen inspections of commercial vehicles, increase police patrols on major highways and improve traffic management around road construction zones.
Why this matters
The Masaka Kampala Highway is one of Uganda’s busiest transport routes, linking the capital with southwestern Uganda and serving as a vital corridor for regional trade.
Fatal collisions along the highway often disrupt commercial activity, delay emergency services and highlight the risks motorists face where heavy trucks share narrow roads with public transport vehicles.
Investigators’ preliminary findings also draw attention to the dangers created when construction zones are not properly managed. Temporary traffic controls, reduced speed limits and driver compliance become increasingly important where normal traffic patterns are altered.
Road safety experts have long argued that preventing such crashes requires more than criminal investigations after the fact. They say stronger enforcement, better highway engineering, regular vehicle inspections and improved driver education are essential to reducing fatalities.
What authorities are saying
Police said investigators will continue gathering evidence while pursuing the truck driver, whose testimony is expected to play a central role in determining the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Authorities also said the inspection of both vehicles, witness interviews and forensic analysis of the crash scene will form part of the investigation before any criminal charges are considered.
Officials urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, reduce speed near construction areas and exercise extra caution when travelling at night.
What happens next
Police are expected to release additional findings once vehicle inspections and witness interviews are completed.
The outcome of the investigation will determine whether criminal charges are filed against the truck driver if he is located.
Families of the victims are meanwhile awaiting the release of the bodies following postmortem examinations as funeral arrangements begin across several Ugandan districts.
The tragedy is also likely to intensify public discussion over highway safety, enforcement of traffic laws and protections for passengers using Uganda’s commuter taxi network.
While investigators continue to establish the precise sequence of events, the crash illustrates broader safety concerns affecting Uganda’s highway network. Construction work often changes normal traffic flow, increasing the need for clear warning signs, reduced speed limits and strict enforcement against dangerous overtaking. Heavy commercial trucks operating alongside passenger vehicles create additional risks when drivers fail to remain within designated lanes.
The incident also underscores the importance of improving emergency response capabilities on major transport corridors. Faster medical intervention, stronger commercial vehicle oversight and continued investment in safer road infrastructure could help reduce fatalities in future crashes. Although police have identified reckless driving as the suspected cause, the final findings will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
Story sources: The Associated Press (AP), The Observer Uganda, The Independent Uganda.
