Police in Kasese District are investigating an incident in which one person was killed and several others injured in a head-on collision that involved a Link Bus and an auto rickshaw (tuk-tuk) along the Fort Portal Kasese highway.

This accident happened on January 29, 2025, in the Hima division in the Kitswamba Sub County, Kasese district, as the Link bus registration number UBR 626Z rammed into the rear of the tuk-tuk that was en route to Kasese from Fort Portal.

Authorities said that the tuk-tuk was overloaded with maize, carrying an unknown number of passengers, with no headlights, which caused the bus driver to crash into its rear.

SP Nelson Tumushime, the Rwenzori East Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident.

’’Police investigations are underway to establish the cause of this accident; however, this accident was caused due to the recklessness and carelessness of the driver of the tuk-tuk vehicle,” Tumushime said.

The police urged all drivers and motorists to comply with traffic regulations, particularly with schools reopening, warning that offenders would face arrest and prosecution once arrested for violating these traffic rules.

The injured were promptly transported to various hospitals and medical facilities in Hima and Kasese for treatment.

In December 2024, Kasese District Police reported a significant uptick in road accidents, with multiple incidents linked to overloading and reckless driving. This alarming trend prompted authorities to call for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations in Uganda.

These incidents highlight the urgent need for enhanced traffic safety measures and public awareness campaigns to combat the dangers associated with overloading and reckless driving in Kasese District.