13 die in Kapchorwa crash after marriage ceremony
Locals at the accident scene in Chepwatit Village, Kaserem Sub-County, on the Kapchorwa-Mbale Road on May 17, 2025. PHOTO/YAHUDU KITUNZI
What you need to know:
- Preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of the accident may be loss of control by the driver, although further inquiries are ongoing.
- The wreckage of the vehicle was removed from the scene, pending further forensic inspection.
Thirteen people died in an road accident in Chekwatit Village, Kaserem Sub-County, on the Kapchorwa-Mbale Road on Saturday.
The victims were returning from a traditional marriage introduction ceremony. The Toyota Hiace that they were travelling in lost control and overturned several times. According to eyewitnesses and authorities, the accident occurred around 9pm, killing some of the travellers on the spot.
A relative of one of the victims, who requested anonymity, said: “Eight people died instantly, while five others succumbed to injuries at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.” The injured travellers were first taken to Kapchorwa Hospital and later transferred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. The vehicle was travelling from Kapchorwa to Busia District. Mr Michael Okurut, who lost a relative, said: “My sister was representing our family.
We were waiting for her to return, only to receive the worst news.” Police have confirmed that the vehicle was overloaded and possibly speeding. Mr Fredmark Chesang, the Sipi Regional Police spokesperson, said brake failure is a suspected cause of the accident. “We are investigating the possibility of brake failure or reckless driving.
Survivor statements will be crucial,” he said. The crash involved members of the Abakwala Clan from Magombe Village, Busia District, who had attended the ceremony in Kapchorwa District. Mr Joseph Wanyama, an elder from Busia, said: “Five members of a single family died, and the number of fatalities has now reached 13. It is a devastating loss.”
Views of locals
Local leaders have expressed concern over the increasing frequency of accidents in the area. Ms Scovia Atim, who talked to Monitor at Mbale hospital, said: “We have lost young, productive citizens. It is a community wound.” Mr Benard Chemutai, a local driver, attributed the rise in accidents to unfamiliarity with Kapchorwa’s rugged terrain and poorly maintained vehicles. “Education on safe driving is urgently needed. Police should enforce traffic laws more strictly,” he said.
Mr Yasin Okwong, a road safety expert, said Kapchorwa’s mountainous roads are particularly hazardous during rain. “Overconfidence and poor vehicle maintenance contribute to these fatal crashes,” he added.
Mr Chesang warned drivers against speeding and overloading, adding that Kapchorwa’s hilly terrain requires extreme caution. “It’s not just about the road; it’s about discipline behind the wheel,” he said. The incident is part of a disturbing pattern of accidents in Kapchorwa. Previous incidents include a May 7 crash that killed nine people, a September 3, 2024, accident that claimed three lives, and a January 10 bus crash in Towei that killed 21. Authorities are investigating the causes of these accidents and are considering measures to enhance road safety, including stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public awareness campaigns.
Recent road crashes in Kapchorwa
On January 10, a bus owned by Kiryandongo Technical Institute overturned in Towei, Sipi Town Council, killing 21 people and injuring six others. On September 3, 2024, a taxi transporting passengers from Kapchorwa District to Kampala City overturned in Chepkwatit Village, Munaria Sub-county, killing three people. 10 others were injured.
The cause of the accident was suspected to be brake failure on a hilly road. On December 26, 2023, a Toyota Prado Land Cruiser overturned in Towei Village, killing five people, including four children. The cause of the accident was brake failure. On February 1, 2023, a Fuso truck with sand, travelling from Mbale to Kapchorwa Town, veered off the road and overturned in Kaptama Village, Munaria Sub-county, killing one child on the spot and injuring four adults.
