Lira, Uganda – August 28, 2025 – A tragic accident along the Lira-Soroti Highway at Corner Amach has left one person dead and twelve others seriously injured.

The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:00 PM on August 27, 2025, involved a collision between a semi-trailer and a coaster, both carrying employees of Mota Engil Road Construction Company.

According to a statement from SP PJ Okema, Public Relations Officer for the North Kyoga Region, the deceased has been identified as Olobo Fabias, who died at the scene. The injured victims, all Mota Engil employees, include Auro Rehema, Omongot Lawrence, Omedi Quinto, Kasula Ronald, Ayuli Denis, Echeng Benard, Acio Monica, Alele Richard, Acheng Charity, Okalebo Jethrom, Akullo Patricia, and Opiny Joshua.

The accident involved a Mercedes-Benz Actros semi-trailer (Reg. No. KCM 0711 A / ZB 1076) driven by an unidentified driver who fled the scene, and a white Toyota Coaster (Reg. No. UBN 572 P) driven by Otim Patrick. The coaster was transporting workers from Soroti when the semi-trailer, traveling from Lira, allegedly veered out of its lane during heavy rain, colliding with the coaster. Both vehicles veered off the road following the impact.

Preliminary investigations point to reckless driving by the semi-trailer driver as the primary cause of the accident. Authorities have urged the driver to turn himself in at the nearest police station. A team of traffic officers responded to the scene, and the vehicles remain under guard awaiting removal by a breakdown service.

Victims were promptly transported to Lira Regional Referral Hospital via ambulance for treatment. Four of the injured, whose conditions are critical, have been transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala for advanced care. The body of Olobo Fabias was taken to the mortuary for a postmortem examination.

SP Okema emphasized the need for caution on the roads, particularly during adverse weather conditions. “We appeal to all drivers and road users to be very observant when it’s raining and to park at the roadside to avoid such carnage,” he said.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for improved road safety measures along the Lira-Soroti Highway, with authorities urging drivers to adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies.

Written

Francis Oyet

Oyet Francis Opwonya, known commonly as Francis L’Oyet is a Ugandan South Sudanese investigative journalist and software engineer. Oyet is the founder and CEO of Oyet Broadcasting Services (OBS Network), an innovation hub and headquarters of The Northern Press in Uganda and The Malakal Press, located in Malakal City, Upper Nile State in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan