Police in Masaka East Region have identified 14 people who died in a deadly road crash that occurred along the Masaka–Kampala Highway in the Lwera swamp stretch.The fatal accident happened on Monday, August 3, 2026, at about 11:40 pm at Kamuwunga Trading Centre in Kalungu District, involving a Toyota Hiace taxi registration number UA 662AQ and a Sino truck registration number UBS 040F.
According to police findings, the taxi was travelling towards Masaka from Kampala when it collided head-on with the sand-loaded Sino truck that was heading towards Kampala. The truck driver allegedly lost control while attempting to avoid humps placed on the road due to ongoing construction works.Police said the truck reportedly swerved into the opposite lane, where it hit the taxi that was moving in its rightful lane. Due to the heavy load on the truck, the impact pushed the taxi backwards for about 30 metres from the point of collision, resulting in multiple deaths.
The deceased have been identified as Alobo Alice Gracious, 30, a resident of Opit Town Council in Omoro District; Kizza Moses, 30, from Kyetume in Kyotera District; Natondwa Joanita, 23, from Masaka City; Namajja Aidah, 52, from Masaka City; and Ssebuuma Lawrence, 34, from Mabaale Kifuufu in Kyotera District.Other victims were identified as Nabbosa Margaret, 36, from Zirobwe Town Council in Luwero District; Nabbulime Veronica and her female juvenile child; Irora Innocent, 39, from Kyegegwa Town Council and an employee of Coca-Cola Namanve; and Police Sergeant No. 44616 Nabukeya, whose duty station is yet to be established.
The crash also claimed the life of the taxi driver, Ssembatya Abdul Karim, a resident of Masaka City. Two other male victims who were occupants of the taxi remain unidentified.Four survivors were recorded, including Kaiga Edward, 22, who was travelling in the Sino truck, and three other occupants whose identities are yet to be established. The injured victims were rushed to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for medical attention.Police teams, including the Regional Traffic Officer Masaka East, Kalungu District Police Commander, and traffic officers from Kalungu, visited the scene and began investigations into the cause of the crash.
The bodies of the deceased were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital mortuary, while both vehicles were towed to Lukaya Police Yard pending inspection by the Inspectorate of Vehicles.Police issued forms to support postmortem and investigation procedures, while efforts are ongoing to trace the driver of the Sino truck, who reportedly fled the scene after the crash.Preliminary investigations have pointed to reckless driving by the truck driver as the suspected cause of the accident. Police have continued to warn motorists to exercise maximum caution, especially on busy highways where road construction activities and changing traffic conditions require extra attention.
