A devastating accident on the Hoima–Buliisa Road has left 19 people dead and 13 others seriously injured after a Fuso truck carrying traders lost control and overturned in Kigorobya Sub-county.
The crash occurred on Tuesday night near Hillside Secondary School when the truck, bearing registration number UBB 639W, reportedly failed to ascend a steep incline. Witnesses say the vehicle rolled backward at high speed before overturning and crushing passengers on board.
Police confirmed that the victims were largely mobile traders from Hoima City, returning from a rural auction market.
They were heading back to the popular Hardware Market, opposite theCadam building, where they sell shoes, clothes, and other merchandise.
“The truck just came speeding back downhill and crushed people,” said a shocked eyewitness. “We counted several bodies before police arrived.”
The traders were reportedly dangerously packed onto the lorry, some even seated on top of goods, despite previous warnings from authorities regarding overloading and unsafe travel methods.
By Wednesday morning, grief-stricken relatives crowded Hoima City Mortuary in Isaka-Kijungu village, braving heavy rain to identify the remains of their loved ones.
Emotional scenes played out as community members mourned, many shaken by viral images and videos showing lifeless bodies scattered along the road.
“My son Pius Magala was also part of the people who have perished,” said **Robert Katongole**, a heartbroken parent.
Another mourner, struggling to speak, said: “In this video, I’ve just seen a friend of mine called Denis. It’s heartbreaking. Imagine identifying your friend through a video.”
Traffic police reported that all 19 victims died on the spot. Thirteen others were severely injured and transported to nearby health facilities for emergency treatment.
Gorret Kimuli, a trader who survived by chance, said she had opted to travel by taxi instead of boarding the truck. “That decision saved my life,” she said.
Husana Agaba, a resident of Hoima West, said she lost two relatives. “I have identified one body. The other is still missing,” she stated.
Stuart Kugonza, a resident of Kigarama Cell, mourned the death of his best friend, Anthony. “He was like a brother to me,” he said tearfully.
Another trader, Gertrude Kasango, said this was the worst tragedy ever witnessed among mobile vendors in the area.
“We are devastated. We have never recorded an accident of this magnitude,” she lamented.
Public outcry has grown over the dangerous use of lorries to ferry people, especially traders, over long distances. Locals have criticized traffic officers for lax enforcement of safety laws, particularly on rural roads.
In response, traffic police issued a warning to drivers to prioritize vehicle safety and maintenance.
“Drivers need to ensure regular maintenance and mechanical checks of their vehicles to prevent avoidable mechanical failures,” police stated on Wednesday.
The incident has reignited urgent conversations around transport safety for informal sector workers who often rely on overloaded, unfit vehicles to conduct their daily business.
