In Summary: Four pedestrians have been killed at Kigoloba Village in Kassanda District after a Toyota Noah reportedly travelling at high speed suffered a tyre burst, veered off the Mityana-Mubende highway and struck them before overturning. The driver fled the scene and remains at large.
Kassanda, Uganda — Four pedestrians were killed on Thursday night after a speeding vehicle lost control and rammed into them along the Mityana-Mubende highway in Kassanda District before overturning.
The fatal crash occurred at about 9:00 pm at Kigoloba Village, involving a black Toyota Noah registration number UBQ 511T, which was travelling from Mityana towards Mubende.
Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, Mr Lameck Kigozi, confirmed the incident, identifying three of the deceased as Patrick Kalyesubula, Moses and Paul Tumuhiirwe. The fourth victim, an adult male, had not been identified by press time.
Preliminary findings by traffic investigators indicate that the vehicle was travelling at high speed when one of its tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road before striking the pedestrians along the roadside.
The driver reportedly fled immediately after the crash and remains at large as police intensify efforts to establish his whereabouts.
Following the incident, Kassanda District Traffic Officer ASP Moses Kasadha led a team of officers to the scene to conduct preliminary investigations, document evidence and interview eyewitnesses.
The bodies of the victims were taken to Kiganda Health Centre IV for postmortem examinations, while the wreckage of the vehicle was towed to Kiganda Police Station as investigations continued.
Road deaths remain a major concern
The Kassanda crash comes amid an increase in fatal road accidents across Uganda. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, the country recorded 26,044 road crashes in 2025, compared to 25,107 in 2024, representing a 3.7 per cent increase.
Fatal crashes rose from 4,434 in 2024 to 4,602 in 2025, while the number of people killed on the roads increased by 4.7 per cent, from 5,144 to 5,383. Serious injuries also increased by 8.4 per cent, from 17,013 to 18,444.
Pedestrians remain particularly vulnerable. The 2025 report indicates that pedestrian deaths increased by 6.6 per cent to 1,776, with pedestrians accounting for 20 per cent of recorded road crashes. Among pedestrian fatalities, 32 per cent involved people walking along the roadside, the same situation reported in the Kassanda incident.
The figures highlight the continuing risks faced by pedestrians and the need for motorists to observe speed limits, maintain their vehicles and exercise caution, particularly along highways.
Police said they are pursuing inquiries into the circumstances of the Kassanda crash and efforts to trace the driver who is still on the run.
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