EDITOR
Tragedy struck on the evening of November 29, 2024, when a single-vehicle accident claimed eight lives and left 29 others injured along the Kabale-Kisoro road in Kamukirwa Cell, Nyarurambi Ward, Rubanda Town Council.
The accident occurred at approximately 10:10 PM, involving a white Toyota Hiace minibus, registration number UBK 037K. According to police reports, the vehicle failed to brake while attempting to negotiate a sharp corner, plunging nearly 100 meters off the road.
The victims include three juvenile girls, three adult women, and two adult men, bringing the total fatalities to eight. The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed. Twenty-nine injured passengers, suspected to be Congolese nationals, were rushed to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for emergency medical attention, thanks to ambulances from Kisoro and Rubanda.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the vehicle was transporting Congolese nationals, possibly escapees, to the Rwamwanja Refugee Camp in Kamwenge District. The exact circumstances surrounding the journey and the accident remain unclear.
The police, led by ASP Elly Maate, have taken swift action. The injured are receiving first aid at Kabale Referral Hospital, and the bodies of the deceased have been transported to the Kabale Hospital mortuary. Efforts to recover the vehicle from the crash site are underway, with the minibus being towed to Rubanda Police Station for further inspection.
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time. Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the accident and the identity of the victims,” said ASP Elly Maate, Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson.
