Mangled vehicles involved in the accident
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Police has revealed details about the Lwera accident, confirming that the horrific crash which claimed 14 lives along the Kampala–Masaka Highway was caused by a speeding sand truck that crossed into the opposite lane while attempting to avoid road humps.
According to preliminary findings by the Uganda Police Force, the fatal collision occurred at about 11:00pm on August 3, 2026, at Kamuwunga Trading Centre in Lwera Swamp, Kalungu District. Investigators established that the driver of a Sino truck, registration number UBS 040F, carrying sand, was travelling at high speed when he attempted to bypass traffic-calming humps by veering into the lane of oncoming traffic.
The truck then collided head-on with a Toyota Hiace commuter taxi, registration number UA 662AQ, which was travelling in the opposite direction with passengers on board.
Greater Masaka Regional Police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye said the impact of the crash was devastating, killing all 14 occupants of the taxi instantly.
“The preliminary investigations indicate that the driver of the Sino truck, while speeding, attempted to avoid road humps by crossing into the opposite lane, where he rammed into the oncoming taxi,” Kasirye said.
Police confirmed that all those who died were passengers travelling in the commuter taxi. Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, but none of the taxi occupants could be rescued.
4 admitted at Masaka Referral Hospital
Four other people survived the collision with serious injuries. Two of the injured were occupants of the taxi, while the other two were travelling in the truck. They were rushed to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, where they were admitted for emergency medical treatment.
Police officers, together with emergency teams, cordoned off the scene and spent several hours recovering bodies trapped in the mangled taxi before transporting them to the mortuary pending identification and postmortem examinations.
Investigators have since launched a manhunt for the truck driver, who fled the scene immediately after the collision. Police say efforts are underway to trace and arrest him so he can assist with the ongoing investigations and face possible charges related to the fatal crash.
Reckless driving blamed
Meanwhile, both the damaged Sino truck and the Toyota Hiace taxi have been towed to Lukaya Police Station for mechanical inspection as part of the investigation.
Traffic investigators are expected to examine the condition of both vehicles to determine whether any mechanical defects contributed to the accident, although preliminary findings point to reckless driving and excessive speed as the primary causes.
The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers posed by speeding and dangerous overtaking on the busy Kampala–Masaka Highway, one of Uganda’s busiest transport corridors. Police have urged motorists to respect traffic regulations, observe speed limits, and exercise caution, especially when approaching road humps and other traffic-control measures, warning that reckless driving continues to claim innocent lives on the country’s roads.
