In a tragic road accident early Wednesday morning, ten people lost their lives, and several others were injured following a head-on collision between a taxi and a bus at Kaihura Trading Center along the Fort Portal-Kyenjojo road.
Vincent Twesige, the Rwenzori West police spokesperson, reported that the accident occurred around 4:00 am. The crash involved a Toyota Hiace taxi, registered as UBR 812G, traveling from Fort Portal, and an Isuzu bus, registered as UBE 807T, operated by the Pokopoko company, which was en route from Kampala.
Twesige detailed the incident, stating, “It’s alleged that on August 28, 2024, at around 0400 hours at Kaihura along the Fort Portal-Kampala road, a fatal traffic accident occurred where an Isuzu bus of Pokopoko company collided with a Toyota Hiace taxi, resulting in the deaths of 10 passengers in the taxi, including its driver.”
Preliminary investigations suggest that the taxi veered from its lane and collided head-on with the oncoming bus, which was traveling in its proper lane.
All the bodies of the deceased were removed from the taxi and transported to Kyenjojo Hospital for postmortem examinations. The injured were also taken to the hospital for medical attention.
By 8:00 am, police had cleared the wreckage of the taxi and moved it to Kaihura Police Post. Efforts were underway to tow the bus wreckage off the road and restore traffic flow.
Passengers aboard the bus, which was heading to Kasese district, were stranded at the scene from 4:00 am until 9:00 am when another Pokopoko bus arrived to transport them to their destinations in Fort Portal and Kasese.
Eyewitness Joshua Katusiime, who arrived at the scene early in the morning, recounted the grim sight of lifeless bodies trapped in the taxi.
He mentioned that survivors speculated the taxi had been speeding, and there were concerns that the driver may have been fatigued or asleep at the time of the accident.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of road safety and the need for drivers to remain vigilant and cautious to prevent such devastating losses.
