Rukungiri, Uganda – Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldiers were among the victims involved in a fatal road crash that occurred on August 19, 2025, in Mironzi I Cell, Bikurungu Town Council, which left one civilian dead as the group was returning from a burial in Rukungiri district.
The deceased has been identified as Zefaniya Ssekikayi, a resident of Kisenyi in Nakasongola Town Council, who was traveling with other victims both army officers and civilians in a green army vehicle (Reg. No. H4DF 2476).The injured UPDF personnel have been identified as S/Sgt. Muhanguzi Diadon (RA. 178799), S/Sgt. Luwoko Geoffrey (RA. 188849), Cpl. Angundu Edward (RA. 221292), Pte. Katurole Jennifer (RA. 294059), and Pte. Chebet Leonard (RA. 261779).
The civilian victims include Tushemerirwe Judith, Tumuramye Maureen, Birabwa Jesca, Nantumbwe Julia, and Luganda Henry.Sources indicate that the group had left Nakasongola to attend the burial of a fallen soldier, Staff Sgt. Twebaze Benard. Upon reaching Rukungiri, they proceeded to the deceased’s home using the Bikurungu Rwenshama Road.
The vehicle overturned onto its side, injuring a dozen people on board, after the driver failed to negotiate a narrow stretch of road, causing the front passenger-side tire to slip off the edge and resulting in a loss of control.
All injured parties were rushed to Nyakibale Hospital for emergency medical attention, where Zefaniya Ssekikayi was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival.
The Kigezi Police spokesperson, ASP Elly Maate, confirmed the incident, stating that a team of traffic officers visited the scene to document it, and relevant statements were recorded from those involved.
The damaged vehicle was towed and is currently parked in the police yard pending an inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles.
Maate added that the primary causes of the accident are preliminarily attributed to bad weather conditions and the exceptionally poor, narrow state of the road, and that inquiries into the precise circumstances of the crash are currently underway.