A tragic road accident in Mayuge District has claimed the lives of five Ugandans and left two others seriously injured, sending shockwaves through the local community. The devastating crash involved a sugarcane truck and two motorcycles and happened at Girigiri village along the busy Musita–Namayingo road.
The fatal accident occurred in Girigiri village located in Mpungwe Sub County in Mayuge District. According to authorities, the incident involved a Tata Benz truck loaded with sugarcane and two motorcycles that were travelling along the same road.
Police reports indicate that the truck, which was carrying sugarcane, suddenly lost control and overturned onto the motorcycles, killing several people instantly. The accident happened in a matter of seconds, leaving witnesses shocked and helpless as the tragic scene unfolded.
The two motorcycles involved in the crash were identified as a Bajaj Boxer registration number UDD 307Z and a TVS Star motorcycle registration number UGH 904L. Both motorcycles had passengers on board when the accident occurred.
According to Michael Kasadha, the Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson, preliminary investigations show that the truck and the motorcycles were travelling in the same direction from Namayingo District towards Mayuge District when the tragedy happened.
Kasadha explained that the motorcycles had temporarily stopped on the side of the road to allow another vehicle to safely join the main highway. This vehicle, believed to be an Isuzu, was attempting to connect to the road while facing the Mayuge direction.
Unfortunately, the Isuzu vehicle reportedly got stuck in the middle of the road while trying to join the highway. This unexpected situation forced the motorcycles to remain stationary as they waited for the road to clear.
At that moment, the Tata Benz truck loaded with sugarcane approached from behind at a speed that made it difficult for the driver to stop in time. According to police, the driver attempted to brake but failed to control the heavy truck.
The truck then lost control, crashed into the two motorcycles and pushed them off the road. Due to the heavy load of sugarcane, the vehicle overturned during the collision, crushing the victims underneath.
Five people who were riding on the motorcycles died on the spot due to the impact and the weight of the overturned truck. The scene quickly attracted residents who rushed to try and rescue the victims.
Two other individuals who were also on the motorcycles survived but sustained very serious injuries. They were pulled from the wreckage by first responders and concerned residents who arrived at the scene.
Traffic police officers led by the Officer in Charge of Traffic in Mayuge District arrived shortly after the accident to assess the situation and begin investigations. The officers also helped coordinate rescue efforts and control traffic along the busy road.
The bodies of the deceased victims were later transported to Mayuge Health Centre IV for postmortem examinations as authorities worked to identify the victims and inform their families.
Meanwhile, the two injured victims were rushed for urgent medical attention and later referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital where they are currently receiving specialized treatment.
Investigations have revealed that among the people who lost their lives in the crash was a man identified as Simon Alamber Jackson. The tragedy became even more heartbreaking after it emerged that his wife and their two children were also among the victims.
The family of four were all residents of Mayuge Town Council and had been travelling together on one of the motorcycles when the accident occurred. Their sudden death has left relatives, friends, and neighbors in deep grief.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the remaining victims as investigations continue and efforts are made to notify their next of kin.
This accident has once again raised serious concerns about the increasing number of road crashes involving sugarcane trucks across the Busoga sub-region.
Districts such as Mayuge District, Luuka District, and Kaliro District have in recent years reported several fatal accidents linked to trucks transporting sugarcane.
Local leaders say many of these incidents are caused by reckless driving, overloading of trucks, and drivers who operate without proper training or qualifications.
Officials have now promised stronger enforcement of road safety regulations in order to reduce the number of deadly accidents on highways in the region and protect road users from further tragedies.
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