Five people have been killed and several others seriously injured after an overloaded truck carrying cattle and passengers overturned along the Moroto-Soroti highway in Napak District.
The fatal accident happened at Lodoon Village in Lorengechora Sub-county when the truck, registration number UNHCR 543U, was travelling from Moroto towards Soroti.
According to police, the vehicle was carrying both passengers and cattle when it developed a mechanical problem after the front tyre reportedly burst.
The driver reportedly lost control of the truck, causing it to overturn several times before coming to a stop.
Police said five people died instantly in the crash, while several others sustained serious injuries.
Karamoja Police spokesperson IP Mike Longole confirmed the incident and said investigations had started to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the accident.
“The tyre burst caused the vehicle to overturn several times, killing five people instantly, while several others sustained serious injuries,” Longole said.
A team led by the officer in charge of Iriiri Police Post visited the accident scene and began collecting information as part of the investigations.
Eyewitnesses said the truck was moving at a high speed before the crash occurred.
Michael Lotyang, one of the witnesses, said some of the deaths could have been avoided if the driver had maintained a safer speed.
“The vehicle was overspeeding. Some of these deaths could have been avoided if the driver had used an appropriate speed, especially because the vehicle was overloaded,” Lotyang said.
The injured victims were quickly rescued and rushed to St Kizito Hospital Matany for medical treatment.
The accident has raised fresh concerns over road safety, especially regarding the transportation of passengers in vehicles not designed or approved for such purposes.
Police have repeatedly warned drivers against overloading vehicles, speeding and ignoring mechanical safety checks before starting journeys.
Authorities said motorists should ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition and follow traffic rules to prevent unnecessary loss of lives.
The Moroto-Soroti highway has experienced several road accidents in recent years, with some linked to speeding, poor vehicle conditions and overloading.
Residents in the area have continued to call for increased enforcement of road safety measures along the busy route.
The latest crash has left families mourning as authorities continue efforts to identify the victims and support those injured.
Police said more details would be provided after investigations into the accident are completed.
For now, emergency teams and local authorities remain focused on helping survivors and determining what exactly caused the deadly crash.
