Update: Police Release Identities of 10 Victims in Fatal Fort Portal Highway Collision

Ten people are dead following an accident that occurred on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 4:00 a.m. at Kaihura along the Fort Portal highway.

According to Vicent Twesige, the PRO for Rwenzori West, it is alleged that at the aforementioned time and place, motor vehicle Reg. No. UBE 807T, an Isuzu Bus belonging to Pokopoko Company, which was coming from the Kampala side, collided with motor vehicle Reg. No. UBR 812G, a Toyota Hiace coming from Fort Portal.

Ten passengers traveling in the taxi, including the driver, died on the spot. The deceased include eight male and two female passengers. It is reported that the taxi veered off its side and collided head-on with the oncoming bus, which had maintained its lane.

The deceased have been identified as;

1. Byarugaba James

2. Rwobucence Fred

3. Tumwine James

4. Bamuhiga Pio

5. Kamureba Najera

6. Noreda

7. Machati Deus

8. Rugurira M/A

9. Mashijja Moses

10. ⁠Driver whose particulars are not yet known.

The victims who include; Nsinikweri Medard, Natuhwera Benjamin and Tumwijukye Fatima are receiving treatment at Kyenjojo Hospital.

All deceased and victims are adults and residents of Ruhama Subcounty in Ntungamo Municipality.

Police were called to the scene, retrieved all the bodies, and handed them over to Kyenjojo Hospital for postmortem. The vehicles have also been towed to Kyenjojo Police Station.

The cause of the accident has been attributed to reckless driving by the taxi driver. It is also reported that the driver has been plying the Mbarara-Ntungamo route but was hired to transport mourners from Ntungamo to Kyenjojo for burial.

It is further alleged that he operated the same taxi all day on 27th and night without rest, despite being on unfarmiliar terrain.