The 3pm accident occurred in Sinalya, near Bombo, involving a Toyota Hiace and a Fuso Fighter truck.
Savanah Region Police spokesperson Sam Twinnaemazima blamed the accident on reckless driving, noting that the driver of the Fuso, registration UBN 052L, was overtaking recklessly when he collided head-on with the Hiace, registration UBL 502Z.
The Fuso driver fled the scene and his identity could not be readily established but the commuter taxi driver was killed on the spot.
Other victims were passengers in the taxi identified as Rogers Mfitumukiza, a resident of Gakoro Village, Sonko Parish, Bufumbira County, Kisoro District, and Charles Opirisa, a Ministry of Works employee resident of Banda, Nakawa Division, Kampala.
Others Joshua Ebong, a male adult, Efrayimu Mugerwa, a resident of Kawala, Kasubi, Rubaga Division, Kampala, a man only identified as Kato and an unnidentified female adult.
The injured victims were rushed to General Military Hospital (GMH) in Bombo for emergency medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Luwero Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Police have launched an investigation into the accident and are appealing to the public for information regarding the whereabouts of the Fuso Fighter driver.
Authorities also urged drivers to exercise caution and follow traffic regulations to avoid further tragedies.
The Kampala-Gulu highway, one of Uganda’s busiest roads, has seen a high frequency of accidents, often attributed to reckless driving and dangerous overtaking.