At least 10 people have died, and three others were left injured in a Wednesday morning grislily road crash at Busowa Town Council along the Busia Highway in Bugiri District.

Police said the 7 am crash involved a Toyota Hiace taxi, registration UBN 817H, and a stationary trailer, registration UA 647BA/UA 430AA. According to SP Michael Kananura, the Traffic and Road Safety Directorate spokesperson, preliminary investigations indicate that the taxi driver attempted to overtake an unidentified vehicle but was forced to react abruptly when another vehicle approached from the opposite direction.

“In an effort to avoid a head-on collision, the driver swerved to the left, lost control, and rammed into a stationary trailer,” SP Kananura said. The taxi driver is among the deceased, according to police. Police and emergency responders rushed to the scene, transporting the injured to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the same hospital mortuary for postmortem examination. SP Kananura noted that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the crash.

He warned motorists against dangerous road behaviour such as speeding, overtaking recklessly, and failing to maintain safe distances—factors that continue to contribute to fatal crashes across the country.

“Drivers are reminded to exercise maximum caution and prioritise safety at all times,” he added. The latest incident adds to the growing concern over increasing road fatalities on major highways, especially during the festive season when traffic volumes rise sharply.