Five people died instantly, and four others were rushed to Bugiri Hospital in critical condition after a taxi collided with a trailer at Igongero Swamp, located 5km along the Bugiri-Iganga main highway this morning.
The injured passengers sustained fractures to the limbs along with deep cuts from the shattered glass and aluminium debris.
Witness Jamada Isabirye said the driver of the trailer registration UBB 838H, was attempting to overtake another trailer traveling towards Iganga from Bugiri.
However, after spotting an oncoming trailer, he changed his mind. Unfortunately, the speeding taxi, registered UBR 385J, was following too closely behind the first trailer and collided with it.
Isabirye faulted the trailer driver for attempting to overtake in a blind spot.
One of the deceased victims was identified as Musa Kawuuma.
At the time of writing, the bodies of the deceased had been claimed by relatives for burial.
The four injured passengers remain in critical condition at Bugiri Main Hospital. Dr Anthony Wamusyuwu, the hospital's medical superintendent, confirmed that the patients are in the intensive care unit on oxygen support.
“We are in the process of transferring them to either Jinja or Mbale referral hospitals due to our limited capacity to handle such injuries,” said Dr Wamusyuwu.
One of the injured, Isma Masaba, a fish trader from Busia, recalled taking a nap in the back seat of the taxi when the accident occurred.
“I woke up to a loud bang and saw a woman next to me with a deep head wound, blood coming from her nose,” he said.
Masaba, who sustained broken hands, legs, and a deep cut to his forehead, managed to escape the wreckage by breaking a window with his right hand.
“I felt intense pain when I hit the tarmac, but I crawled off the road,” he added.
Busowa Town Council LC3 Chairman Badru Naminya has called on the government to install speed humps at the site to prevent further accidents. In the past two months, three accidents have occurred at the same location, resulting in 15 fatalities.
Police spokesman for Busoga East, Michael Kafayo, urged drivers to avoid reckless driving, particularly overtaking in blind spots, to reduce such incidents.
He also confirmed that police are searching for the taxi driver, who fled the scene, to face charges of murder through reckless driving.
At the time of writing, the wreckage of both vehicles had been towed to Bugiri Central Police Station for further investigation.