KIRUHURA, Uganda — Eight people have been killed and one critically injured following a head-on collision between a passenger taxi and a trailer along the Mbarara–Lyantonde highway in western Uganda, police have confirmed.
The crash occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time on Friday at Kibega I village in Kiruhura District. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commuter taxi travelling from Mbarara towards Lyantonde and a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer heading in the opposite direction.
According to Rwizi Region police spokesperson SP Samson Kasasira, all the casualties were occupants of the taxi.
“Police in Kiruhura district has today the 13/02/2026 at around 1830/c registered a fatal accident at Kibega 1 village along Mbarara Lyantonde highway… that claimed 08 lives, injuring 01 victim,” Kasasira said in a statement.
“It’s alleged that the Toyota Hiace was from Mbarara headed to Lyantonde while the trailer was from Lyantonde headed to Mbarara direction. The Toyota Hiace driver over took from a corner and ended up colliding with the trailer that was coming from the opposite direction in its lane,” he added.
Police said four bodies remained trapped in the wreckage shortly after the collision as rescue teams worked to retrieve them. Authorities were still in the process of formally identifying some of the victims.
Local media reports indicated that Julius Kitone, a journalist with NBS Television, was among those killed in the crash.
In an internal communication to staff, the management announced “with deep sorrow” the passing of their colleague following the road accident along the Mbarara–Sanga road, noting that both police and his family had confirmed the news.
The message recalled that Kitone, born in February 1991, joined Next Media in 2020 and would be remembered for his “dedication and contribution to the Next Media family.”
It extended “heartfelt condolences” to his family, friends and colleagues, adding that funeral arrangements would be shared once confirmed.
Born in February 1991, Kitone joined Next Media in 2020. Over six years, he grew into a dependable general reporter with a strong focus on climate change reporting.
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He covered several global environmental events and consistently pushed for deeper attention to climate issues, often advocating for the subject with quiet persistence.
Preliminary police findings suggest reckless driving and unsafe overtaking as the likely cause of the accident. Investigations are ongoing.
A persistent road safety crisis
Road traffic accidents remain a major public safety challenge in Uganda. Police data consistently show that more than 4,500 people die annually on Ugandan roads, with thousands more sustaining serious injuries.
According to traffic police reports, human error, particularly speeding, dangerous overtaking, driver fatigue and poor lane discipline, accounts for the overwhelming majority of crashes.
High-risk highways linking major towns, including the Mbarara–Lyantonde route, have repeatedly recorded fatal incidents involving commuter taxis and heavy commercial trucks.
Road safety advocates have previously called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, installation of speed-calming measures on blackspot corridors, and increased driver education for public service vehicle operators.
The latest tragedy is likely to intensify scrutiny of highway safety standards, especially on busy inter-district routes where overtaking on blind corners remains a recurring cause of deadly collisions.
