MASAKA: At least three people were confirmed dead and three others were critically injured following a head-on collision involving a saloon car and a Fuso truck on the Masaka-Mbarara Road in the early hours of Saturday.
The accident, which occurred around 3am, involved a Toyota Mark X registration number UBP 460P, and a Fuso truck, registration number UBA 414P, heading from Kampala to Mbarara.
The Mark X, with three occupants, collided with the Fuso truck near Masaka, resulting in a devastating fire that consumed the smaller vehicle.
All three occupants of the Mark X were burnt beyond recognition, making it difficult to immediately identify them.
However, the victims have since been identified as Colline Kityo, 21, Vincent, and Engineer Musiime, 27.
All three were residents of Sembabule.
Witnesses reported that the deceased had attended a cultural ceremony in Mateete, Sembabule, earlier that night.
After the event, they decided to drive back to Masaka town for a night out at Club Ambience.
According to Angella Namata, a close friend of the victims, the group was already under influence when they set off on their fateful journey.
“Before they left Sembabule, they drank a lot of waragi. We begged them not to drive, but they refused to listen,” Namata said.
The three occupants of the Fuso truck — Mahadi Kizito, Saadi Kizito, and Wahab Kizito — were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital in critical condition.
The cause of the accident has been attributed to reckless driving, with police confirming that the Mark X driver was speeding and possibly under the influence of alcohol.
“It’s very clear that the Mark X driver was speeding and perhaps acting under the influence of alcohol,” said Twaha Kasirye, the Masaka Region Police spokesperson.
“We also advise people not to drink and drive, but many of them are keeping a deaf ear. That’s why you see the number of accidents on roads is increasing.”
The collision caused a significant delay in emergency response, as it took several hours for police and residents to figure out how to separate the remains of the deceased from the wreckage.
Residents voiced their frustration over the police’s delayed arrival and lack of necessary equipment, particularly a fire brigade.
“The cars collided at 3am., but we wonder why it took police several hours to reach the scene. Yet, if it’s dispersing protestors, they report in time and in full force,” one resident lamented.
Adding to the frustrations, it was revealed that the Masaka police do not currently have a functioning fire truck. The only available fire truck had been sent to Kenya for repairs.
In the absence of this essential equipment, the Chinese road construction company operating in the area provided a water truck to help extinguish the fire.
This tragic incident underscores the persistent challenges facing road safety in Uganda, particularly the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Despite numerous warnings from authorities, reckless driving continues to claim lives, leaving families and communities in mourning.
