By Kabugho Elias
A sombre mood has engulfed Kabwohe Town in Sheema District after a devastating road crash claimed the lives of seven people and left two others critically injured in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident occurred at Rusharara along the busy Bushenyi–Mbarara Highway at approximately 7:00am, when a Toyota Fielder, registration number UA 702DL, reportedly veered off the road and rammed into pedestrians.
The victims were said to be returning from morning prayers at St. Rose Catholic Centre and Breakthrough Bethel International Ministries (BBMI), making the tragedy even more painful for the local community.
Confirming the incident, Apollo Tayebwa, the acting Greater Bushenyi Region Police spokesperson, said seven people died instantly at the scene. Their bodies were later transported to Kabwohe Health Centre III for post-mortem examinations.
Two survivors sustained critical injuries and were rushed to ICOBI Hospital, where they are currently battling for their lives.
Police have since launched investigations into the cause of the crash, with early indications pointing to possible loss of control by the driver. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether speeding or mechanical failure could have contributed to the incident.
The tragedy comes against the backdrop of rising road accidents across the country. In the 2025 annual police report, Lawrence Niwabiine, the AIGP for Traffic and Road Safety, reported a 3.7 percent increase in crashes, with 26,044 incidents recorded compared to 25,107 in 2024.
