RUKUNGIRI: Three people have been confirmed dead and nineteen others seriously injured following a devastating road accident along the Rukungiri-Ntungamo Road in Rukungiri District.
The fatal collision occurred at around 10:20 PM on Saturday at Omukabingo Cell, Buyanja Sub-county. It involved an Isuzu bus belonging to Perfect Bus Company (registration number UBN 331G) and a Toyota Hiace taxi (registration number UBA 341G).
According to a police statement, the Isuzu bus was traveling from Rukungiri Town towards Ntungamo when it veered off its lane and collided head-on with the oncoming taxi.
The impact caused the bus to overturn onto its driver’s side in the middle of the road, while the taxi spun and came to a stop in the opposite direction.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the fatalities. The deceased have been identified as Ronald, alias Kakimpa, a 35-year-old taxi conductor, Liberty Bonance, a 3-year-old Congolese child and an unidentified adult female passenger.
Maate added that nineteen critically injured passengers were rushed to Nyakibale Hospital for emergency medical treatment. The bus driver reportedly fled the scene and remains at large.
Police, led by Rukungiri District Police Commander SSP Kyangungu Apollo, promptly responded to the scene, cordoned off the area, conducted a sketch plan, and recorded statements from eyewitnesses. The bodies of the deceased were transported to Rwakabengo Health Centre Mortuary for postmortem examinations.
Both vehicles have been impounded at the local police station pending mechanical inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV).
Maate attributed the accident to reckless driving by the bus driver and urged all motorists to adhere to road safety regulations to avoid similar tragedies. Investigations into the incident are ongoing
