Three Dead, Several Injured in Rukungiri Road Accident Involving Bus and Taxi

Rukungiri: Police in Rukungiri are investigating a fatal road traffic accident that occurred last night, claiming three lives and leaving several others seriously injured.

The accident happened on the night of April 12, 2025, at around 10:20 PM at Omukabingo Cell, Buyanja Sub-county, along the Rukungiri–Ntungamo Road.

According to the Kigezi regional police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate, the crash involved two vehicles, an Isuzu bus registration number UBN 331G belonging to Perfect Bus Company, blue in colour, and a white Toyota Hiace (PSV) registration number UBA 341G.

Those who died in the accident include a 35-year-old taxi conductor Ronald, also known as Kakimpa, a 3-year-old Congolese child Liberty Bonance, and an unidentified female adult who was a passenger in the taxi.

Among the injured are several UPDF officers: Captain Bright Musinguzi, Sergeant Edgar Kwesigwa, Lance Corporal Alex Tukwasibwe, and Private Okello Francis. Other injured persons include a Congolese national Pacific Claude, Blair Abenomugisha, Bernard Nyabanawe aged 62, Annah Tumwebaze, James Barisimwaki aged 44, Jackline Amumpire, Kiconco Florence, Oliver Komushana, Oscar Tayebwa, Hassan Kakuru, Frank Baryakira aged 63, Johnbosco Atwongirwe, the taxi driver Andrew Mwesigwa, the bus conductor Godfrey Tukahirwa, and Muzenero Charles.

According to the Police reports, the bus was traveling from Rukungiri town towards Ntungamo when it veered off its lane and collided with the oncoming taxi. After the collision, the bus fell on its driver’s side in the middle of the road, while the taxi turned and faced the opposite direction.

Three people, two from the taxi and one from the bus, died at the scene. All the injured were rushed to Nyakibale Hospital for treatment. The driver of the bus is currently on the run.

Maate said that, Police were alerted and a team led by Rukungiri District Police Commander SSP Apollo Kyangungu visited the scene. A sketch plan was made and statements were recorded. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Rwakabengo Health Centre mortuary for postmortem. The vehicles involved in the accident were towed to the police station pending inspection by the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV).

Preliminary investigations suggest that reckless driving by the bus driver was the likely cause of the accident.