Seven members of a single family killed in highway Masaka crash

Seven members of the same family were killed in a head-on collision on the Masaka-Mbarara highway in Lwengo District early on Saturday, police said.

The crash occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. local time at Njagalakasayi village, involving a Toyota Fielder car (registration UBH 476W) and a Fuso Fighter truck (registration UBP 510V).

Preliminary investigations indicate the driver of the Toyota Fielder, travelling from the Masaka direction, attempted to overtake a line of vehicles and collided with the oncoming truck.

All seven occupants of the car – a man, his wife, their four children and the man’s brother – died at the scene, according to Michael Kananura, spokesman for the traffic police directorate.

The bodies were taken to Masaka City Mortuary for postmortem examination. Both vehicles were towed to a police station pending further inspection.

Police urged motorists to avoid reckless overtaking, particularly at night when visibility is reduced, and to limit night travel where possible to prevent fatigue-related incidents.