Butebo, Uganda: A tragic scene unfolded in Kapunyasi Sub-county, Butebo District, on Tuesday morning after a one-year-old boy was crushed to death by a lorry that lost control while being pushed out of deep mud following an overnight downpour.
The accident occurred at around 8:00 a.m. along Kapunyasi Road in Kapunyasi Village, when a white Fuse Mignon Fighter lorry (UBP 978P), which had gone to Disiri Village to load burnt bricks, veered off course and ploughed into a group of children who were watching nearby.
The deceased has been identified as Godfrey Ngai, son of Ronald Byansi, a 20-year-old resident of Disiri Village.
According to eyewitnesses, workers were attempting to push the stuck lorry out of the muddy loading site when the vehicle suddenly lurched forward in high gear. The driver reportedly failed to control it in time.
While older children managed to flee, little Ngai, too young to react, was hit and died instantly at the scene. “We were loading bricks when the lorry got stuck in the deep mud from last night’s rain,” Byansi recounted in tears.
“The children, including my son, came running to watch. Suddenly, it surged forward. I screamed, but it was too late. My boy didn’t stand a chance.”
ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the Bukedi North Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident, saying a team from Butebo Police Station, led by the OC Traffic, responded swiftly.
“Our officers visited the scene, drew a sketch map, and recorded statements from eyewitnesses, including brick loaders and residents,” he said.
Kyempasa added that a Good Samaritan drove the lorry to the police station, while Ngai’s body was transported in police pickup UP 7728 to Mbale City Mortuary for postmortem. Investigations are ongoing to identify the lorry driver and determine the full circumstances surrounding the accident.
The Kapunyasi Sub-county Chairman condemned the tragedy, urging authorities to prioritize road safety improvements in rural areas prone to mud-related accidents. “We need speed bumps, proper drainage, and better supervision on village roads,” he said. “Children play everywhere here; one small mistake, and lives are lost.”
ASP Kyempasa appealed to drivers to exercise extreme caution in slippery weather, avoid overloading, and ensure vehicles are properly maintained.
The tragedy underscores Uganda’s persistent road safety crisis. According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, the country records over 4,800 road deaths each year, with children and pedestrians among the most affected, especially in rural regions where poor infrastructure and reckless driving remain rampant.
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