A Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldier assigned to the escort team of Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs Huda Olele died on the spot Sunday evening after a head-on collision on the Kampala-Gulu Highway in Kalule, Nyimbwa Sub-County, authorities said.
Several other UPDF soldiers travelling in the same convoy were seriously injured in the crash.
Police said the crash happened at around 7:45 pm when a white Fuso Fighter truck (registration UAN 394Z) heading from Kampala toward Luwero District attempted a reckless overtaking manoeuvre near Kalule Trading Centre.
According to ASP Sam Twiineamazima, the Regional Police Spokesperson for Savannah Region, the truck rammed head-on into an oncoming green Toyota Hilux (registration UG 0388D), which was part of the minister’s convoy driving toward Kampala.
He identified the deceased soldier as LCPL Moses Edongoto. Six other army officers and two civilians sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Bombo General Military Hospital for emergency medical care.
ASP Twiineamazima said both vehicles were towed to Bombo Police Station and that preliminary findings point to ‘reckless overtaking by the Fuso truck driver’ as the cause of the fatal crash.
Police said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Uganda records an average of about 25 deaths from road crashes and murders every day, according to the 2024 annual police crime report.