At least 14 people were killed on the spot and four others injured in a devastating road crash along the Kampala–Masaka Highway late Monday night after a taxi collided with a sand-laden truck in Lwera Swamp, Kalungu District.
According to the Uganda Police Force, the fatal crash occurred at around 11:00 p.m. on August 3, 2026, at Kamunga Trading Centre in Lwera Swamp, one of the country’s most accident-prone stretches of highway.
Police identified the vehicles involved as a Toyota Hiace taxi, registration number UA 662AQ, and a Sino truck, registration number UBS 040F, which was transporting sand.
“The accident involved a Toyota Hiace taxi (UA 662AQ) and a Sino truck (UBS 040F) transporting sand. Fourteen people died on the spot, all from the taxi,” police said.
Four other victims survived the crash with injuries. Police said two injured passengers from the taxi and two occupants of the truck were rushed to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Authorities said traffic officers and investigators responded to the scene shortly after the crash to document evidence and recover the bodies.
Police also revealed that the driver of the truck fled the scene immediately after the collision and remains at large.
“Investigations are underway, and efforts to trace the fleeing driver are ongoing,” the statement added.
The identities of the deceased had not yet been released by Tuesday morning as police worked to notify their next of kin.
The tragedy adds to the growing number of fatal crashes recorded along the Kampala–Masaka Highway, particularly around the expansive Lwera Swamp section, which has over the years been associated with numerous deadly accidents involving passenger vehicles and heavy trucks.
Road safety experts have repeatedly raised concerns about speeding, dangerous overtaking, driver fatigue, and the high volume of heavy commercial traffic using the corridor, factors frequently cited in crashes along the route.
Police are expected to conduct a full investigation to establish the exact cause of Monday night’s collision, including whether reckless driving, speeding, or mechanical failure played a role.
The crash comes amid continued calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road safety measures on Uganda’s major highways, where road crashes continue to claim hundreds of lives every year.
Further details, including the identities of the victims and the circumstances leading to the collision, are expected as investigations progress.
