A Trinity bus crash on the Kabale–Mbarara Highway has killed three people and injured four others. The accident happened in Rukiga District at Bukinda–Kakatunda. Police say the bus was travelling from Kigali, Rwanda, to Kampala when the driver lost control on a slope.
Kigezi Region Police spokesperson Elly Maate said the vehicle veered off the road. It entered a water channel and slid into a deep trench. During the slide, the bus door broke open as passengers tried to escape. Three adult men died instantly after the bus crushed them.
Authorities identified the deceased as Lubwama John Herbert, 26, from Kawempe Division in Uganda; Habineza Alfred, 30, a Rwandan bus conductor; and Gadaffi, another Rwandan conductor.
The crash also injured four people. They include the driver, Habiyaremye Ananias, 44, from Rwanda’s Rwamagana District, and three adult women whose names police had not yet confirmed.
Maate said the driver likely sped while going downhill. “Over-speeding appears to be the main cause,” he explained. Emergency teams responded quickly. They used a Ministry of Health ambulance to rush the injured to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital. Officials took the bodies to Kabale Hospital mortuary for postmortem exams.
Police then towed the bus—registration RAT 597K—to Rukiga Central Police Station. They are holding it there for a technical inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles. Investigators continue to review the crash details.
This Trinity bus crash Kabale–Mbarara Highway highlights ongoing road safety risks in Uganda’s mountainous regions. Steep, winding roads demand extra caution, especially during descents. Authorities urge drivers to slow down and follow speed limits.
Families now mourn the victims as officials complete identification procedures. The tragedy serves as a stark warning: speeding on slopes can have deadly consequences. It also reinforces the need for stronger enforcement of road safety rules across East Africa.
