Rwizi Region – Kiruhura District: Police in Kiruhura District have confirmed a fatal road traffic accident that occurred today, 13th February 2026, at approximately 6:30 PM at Kibega I Village along the Mbarara–Lyantonde Highway.
The crash involved a white Toyota Hiace, registration number UBQ 016U, and a M/Benz Actros trailer, registration numbers KDQ 668L / ZH 5133.
The accident claimed eight lives and left one survivor with serious injuries. The injured victim was rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for medical treatment. All the victims were occupants of the Toyota Hiace.
According to preliminary police investigations, the Toyota Hiace was traveling from Mbarara towards Lyantonde, while the trailer was heading in the opposite direction from Lyantonde towards Mbarara. It is alleged that the driver of the Toyota Hiace attempted to overtake at a corner and collided head-on with the oncoming trailer, which was moving in its proper lane.
The impact caused fatal injuries to the occupants of the Toyota Hiace. Police report that four bodies are still trapped in the wreckage, and efforts to retrieve them are ongoing. The process of identifying the deceased is also underway.
Preliminary findings indicate that the suspected cause of the accident was reckless driving. More details will be provided as investigations continue.
“Preliminary investigations point to reckless driving as the suspected cause of the crash. Retrieval of the trapped bodies is ongoing, and identification of the deceased is underway,” said SP Kasasira Samson, Police Spokesperson for the Rwizi Region.
