Five people were killed and two others injured after a trailer loaded with palm oil crashed into vehicles and people at Kabwohe Stage in Sheema Municipality along the Mbarara-Ishaka road.
The accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the trailer, registration number UA 234 DK, reportedly veered off the road before crashing into vehicles at the roadside.
Among those identified among the dead were Umar, a boda boda blocker, and Living, a motor vehicle mechanic.
Police and recovery teams responded to the scene and used an excavator to clear the wreckage. There were fears that additional victims could have been trapped under the wreckage of a Toyota Premio.
The two injured victims were taken for medical attention, although details about their conditions were not immediately available.
The crash has renewed concerns among residents about the condition of the Mbarara-Ishaka road, particularly the section around Kabwohe.
Locals said the road is narrow and has several potholes, which they blame for frequent accidents in the area. They claimed that more than 15 crashes have occurred along the section in the past six months.
Residents have called for urgent repairs to the road, saying its condition poses a danger to motorists, pedestrians and roadside businesses.
Police had not immediately released details on what caused the trailer to leave the road or whether the driver had been arrested.
