19 Ugandan Traders Killed after Truck They Were Travelling Rolled Downhill
- A tragic road accident claimed the lives of at least 19 traders in Western Uganda, though eyewitnesses say the toll could be higher than the figures.
- The victims were on board a Fuso lorry, which overturned while being driven up a hilly road on the Hoima–Buliisa Highway
- According to police, the truck rolled back and decanted the victims before ploughing over them and killing them on the spot
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At least 19 people died in a nasty road accident in Western Uganda on Tuesday evening, August 5.
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The accident involving a Fuso lorry occurred at a spot on the Hoima–Buliisa Road near Hillside Secondary School in Kigorobya Sub-County.
How lorry accident cost lives in Western Uganda
Monitor reports that most of the victims were traders from Hoima City.
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Police reports indicate that the truck bearing registration number UBB 639W encountered difficulty ascending a slight incline near Nyabagwa Ha'kisaru. In a sudden reversal, it lost momentum and rolled backwards, violently striking several passengers before overturning—leading to multiple fatalities.
“We counted several bodies before police arrived. The truck just came speeding back downhill and crushed people,” Monitor quoted one witness.
The traders, who deal in low-cost clothes, shoes, and other merchandise, travel long journeys to auction markets and return to Hoima to resell their wares.
They are said to have always boarded overloaded trucks while on their way home, this despite warnings from road safety officers and the police.
On Wednesday, August 6, the bereaved families gathered at the Hoima City mortuary to identify their loved ones.
Who is to blame for the Hoima accident?
Some members of the Ugandan civil society blamed the accident on the apparent negligence on the part of the law enforcement agents.
The Mid Western Region Anti-Corruption Coalition (MIRAC) said the accident was avoidable.
"This horrific incident is yet another painful reminder of the urgent need for accountability, regulation, and enforcement on our roads. The loss of these lives — mothers, fathers, youth, and breadwinners — is not just a statistic. It is a national tragedy, a community wound, and a failure of systems meant to protect life," read a statement from MIRAC.
The organisation blamed the police for allowing the lorry drivers to operate illegally and dangerously in exchange for bribes.
The drivers are accused of overloading their trucks and illegally carrying passengers as the officers watch without action.
They claimed the Fuso lorry in the Hoima accident was operating illegally.
The organisation called for a host of actions and measures to avert such accidents.
"We call upon the Ministry of Works and Transport to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding this accident and publish a transparent report. Uganda Police Force – Traffic Directorate to intensify enforcement against overloading, unlicensed drivers, and unroadworthy vehicles. Local governments and market authorities to regulate and monitor transport arrangements for traders, ensuring that safety is prioritised over profit, and parliament and relevant agencies to fast-track legislation and funding for rural road safety programs and emergency response systems," MIRAC said.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
