The death toll from Thursday morning’s road crash at Kakira Junction along the Jinja-Iganga Highway has risen to five, with two more victims succumbing to injuries at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Preliminary reports indicate that the crash occurred when a speeding commuter taxi, registration number UA 130 CY, rammed into a slow-moving trailer.
Three people—a man, a woman and a child—died at the scene, while two others later died as doctors battled to save their lives. One of the deceased has been identified as Robinah Birungi, 56, a trader in the clothing section of Jinja Central Market. Authorities also reported that relatives removed two of the bodies from the scene before police documentation was completed, explaining their absence from the hospital mortuary.
Pius Otim, the Head of Emergency Services at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, said the hospital received 17 injured victims and the body of a child who had died at the scene. He said all the injured arrived in critical condition, with two later succumbing to their injuries despite medical intervention. According to Otim, three patients with severe head injuries have been referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
He added that 11 other victims remain in critical condition but are receiving treatment at the hospital’s emergency unit, while another patient has stabilised and is gradually regaining consciousness. Otim said the hospital also admitted three victims from a separate road crash along the Jinja-Kamuli Road, all of whom remain under emergency care.
He credited the prompt response by ambulances and emergency teams for helping reduce the number of fatalities despite the severity of the injuries sustained. Kiira Regional Police spokesperson James Mubi said investigators are still working to establish the identities of some of the victims, noting that many were unable to communicate because their phones were either switched off, had depleted batteries, or were password-protected. Mubi said investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing as police work to trace and notify the victims’ families-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
