A UPDF soldier at the rank of major who was trying to overtake a line of vehicles in Mabira forest died on the spot when his vehicle was involved in a head –on collision with an oncoming trailer.
The accident happened at around 1:30pm on Friday at Sanga-Mabira near the new picnic site along the Kampala-Jinja highway.
“It is alleged that a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 registration number UBQ 424N driven by Maj Habib Nsamba Katakabire from Kampala to Jinja side overtook vehicles and in the process collided with a Howo Trailer registration number UBP which was coming from Jinja side,” Ssezibwa police region spokesperson, SP Hellen Butoto.
She said after the collision, the Toyota Land Cruiser rolled over and knocked another vehicle, a Toyota Premio registration number UBP 411L driven by a police officer attached to Bweyogerere police.
Photos from the accident scene show the front part of the V8 Land Cruiser, especially the driver’s side smashed while the trailer was also badly hit that it overturned and the front tyres fell off.
Police said the UPDF died on the spot while the driver of the trailer, Muhammad Kasozi, 62 and resident of Kamuli sustained injuries and is currently admitted to Kawolo hospital for treatment.
Whereas the deceased’s body has been taken to Kawolo hospital mortuary for postmortem, the three vehicles have been taken to Mabira Police Station yard pending inspection by the inspector of vehicles.
Police have attributed the accident to reckless overtaking by the driver of the Toyota Land Cruiser.