A tragic road crash in Lwengo District has left eight people dead and 33 others injured, renewing calls on authorities to revise ongoing traffic regulations enforced along the busy Masaka–Mbarara Highway.

The accident which occurred early on Tuesday at around 1:00am in Kalengo Village, involved a passenger bus and a box-body truck.

Police say the truck, travelling from Masaka towards Mbarara, rammed into the rear of the bus, triggering a violent collision that caused both vehicles to roll several times.

Twaha Kasirye the Southern Region Police spokesperson said that the crash was due to reckless driving, particularly over speeding.

“A speeding box-body truck, registration number UBH 013Q, rammed into the rear of a passenger bus, registration number UAL 492L. The impact caused both vehicles to overturn several times, killing eight people instantly,” Kasirye said.

The injured were rushed to nearby health facilities in Kyazanga and Lyantonde for treatment, while police began investigations into the exact cause of the crash.

However, the incident has brought concerns about careless enforcement of traffic regulations on one of Uganda’s busiest highways, with road safety advocates pointing to a pattern of preventable accidents.

The latest crash brings the number of people killed in road accidents in the greater Masaka region to at least 12 in just three days, following earlier fatal incidents in Kalungu and Lyantonde districts.

Kasirye acknowledged the worrying trend and urged motorists to exercise greater discipline on the road.

“We continue to appeal to all road users, especially drivers of heavy commercial vehicles, to observe speed limits and maintain safe distances to avoid such tragic incidents,” he said.

Questions are now being raised about whether enough is being done to deter dangerous driving, particularly at night when visibility is low and enforcement is often minimal.

Many of the victims were reportedly travelling without identification documents, complicating efforts to notify their families.

“We are appealing to members of the public who may have missing relatives to come forward and help in identifying the victims,” Kasirye added.

As investigations continue, the crash has intensified calls for stricter enforcement, including routine highway patrols, speed monitoring, and tougher penalties for reckless driving.