– KALUNGU, Uganda
A fatal head-on collision between a taxi and a sand truck left at least 14 people dead on Monday night along the Kampala-Masaka highway in Kalungu district. The accident occurred between 11:00 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. on August 3, 2026, in the Kamuwunga shopping center, on the Lwera swampy section of the highway, and left four injured.
The taxi, a white Toyota Hiace with license plate UA 662AQ, traveling from Kampala to Masaka, collided with a red Sino truck with license plate UBS 040F carrying sand. All 14 people killed were passengers in the taxi, including the driver. The four injured, two from each vehicle, were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for medical treatment.
Initial investigations suggest the truck driver may have been trying to avoid speed bumps placed in his lane due to ongoing roadworks, causing the head-on collision between the two vehicles. Police officers quickly arrived at the scene to document the accident and begin their investigation. Initial reports indicated the truck driver had fled after the crash, though later information suggested he may have been among those treated at the hospital. Authorities continued their efforts to determine his whereabouts.
Police confirmed that all the fatalities were passengers in the taxi and that the bodies were recovered from the crash site. Official identification of the victims was still underway at the time of the initial reports. Investigations into the exact circumstances of the collision remain active.
This latest fatal accident has reignited concerns about the dangers drivers face on Uganda's major highways, especially at night and in construction zones. Police are continuing their investigation and are urging motorists to drive with caution and respect speed limits and road conditions on the busy Kampala-Masaka corridor.