Kampala, Uganda: The management of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) is facing mounting public criticism and accusations of negligence following a fatal crash at the Wankoko railway level crossing in Bugolobi that claimed the life of an American national.
The accident, which involved a commuter train and a Mitsubishi Pajero, resulted in the death of Savana Gardner, sparking renewed scrutiny over safety conditions at one of Kampala’s busiest rail crossings.
In a statement issued on December 22, 2025, URC said the crossing was manned by personnel from the Railways Police and URC at the time of the crash, and that traffic had been stopped on all sides before the train passed.
“Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) regrets to inform the public of a fatal accident that occurred on the evening of Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Wankoko level crossing in Bugolobi. The incident, which took place at approximately 5:37 PM, involved our evening Commuter Train Service traveling from Kampala to Namanve and a private motor vehicle, a Mitsubishi Pajero with registration number UBF 582X,” reads in part the statement authored by URC Managing Director, Benon M. Kajuna.
“Preliminary reports indicate that at the time of the incident, the level crossing was being manned by staff from both the Railways Police and URC in line with our safety guidelines.
Additionally, traffic on all sides of the level crossing (Bugolobi, Port Bell road, and 3rd Street) had come to a complete stop to allow the train to pass safely. However, the driver of the Pajero, an American national, attempted to cross the track, resulting in a collision with the oncoming train. URC has instituted internal investigations and is fully cooperating with Uganda Police Force investigators to find out what exactly happened,” it added.
However, the URC account has been strongly disputed by residents and regular road users, who insist the crossing is routinely unmanned and lacks even the most basic safety infrastructure.
“I use that crossing daily, and I have never seen URC staff manning it,” one commuter told DailyExpress.
“When a train approaches, motorists are forced to lower their windows to listen for the train horn. There are no gates, no warning signs, nothing.”
Residents say the absence of automatic or manual barrier gates, designed to block vehicles when trains are approaching, has effectively turned the crossing into a death trap. Such gates are considered standard safety features at busy level crossings globally.
Several locals also rejected URC’s claim that traffic was stopped at the time of the crash, saying there are no permanent rail guards stationed at Wankoko.
“URC is pretending,” another resident said, adding, “There are no rail guards there. This is not the first time someone has died at Wankoko.”
Community members pointed to earlier fatal incidents at the same crossing, including the death of a staff member from MTN Uganda several years ago, arguing that repeated tragedies highlight long-standing safety failures that have gone unaddressed.
Road safety advocates say reliance on train horns alone is grossly inadequate in a densely populated urban area like Bugolobi, where traffic congestion, background noise, and limited visibility significantly raise accident risks.
While URC acknowledged the fatality and conveyed condolences to the victim’s family, it did not explain why the crossing lacks barrier gates, warning lights, or clear signage, nor did it outline any immediate plans to upgrade safety infrastructure at the site.
As investigations by the Uganda Police Force continue, pressure is intensifying on URC to take responsibility and urgently install physical barriers, warning systems, and permanent staffing at Wankoko and other high-risk railway crossings across Kampala.
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