Uganda’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Norbert Mao, has assured the public that he is unharmed after he witnessed a deadly road accident on Sunday night in Bombo involving a lorry and an escort vehicle attached to Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon. Huda Oleru.

In a statement released on Monday, Mao explained that the collision happened at around 7:00 p.m. in Kalule, Bombo, Luweero District, when a lorry rammed into a security pickup escorting Minister Oleru.

He emphasized that none of his convoy vehicles was part of the crash but noted that his team stopped to assist the victims.

"With the help of other travellers and locals, we rescued the escorts and managed to send the injured to Bombo Military Hospital,” Mao said.

He added that the impact claimed the life of a soldier who was trapped inside the wreckage. "Unfortunately, one of the soldiers who was trapped in the pickup died instantly. We went to Bombo hospital and confirmed that another soldier had died on arrival. Others are receiving treatment.”

Mao said he spoke to Defence Minister Oboth Oboth, who immediately directed medical personnel from Bombo to intervene, and he also reached out to Minister Oleru, whose own vehicle was not involved in the incident.

He extended appreciation to bystanders and his security aides for stepping in as first responders and conveyed condolences to the families of the two fallen soldiers.

Rising Road Safety Concerns

The fatal crash contributes to ongoing alarm over Uganda’s road safety situation. The 2024 Annual Traffic Police Report indicates that the country registered more than 23,000 road accidents last year, leading to roughly 4,800 deaths and thousands of injuries.

The Kampala–Gulu highway passing through Bombo remains one of the country’s most dangerous routes, plagued by speeding, heavy traffic flow, and frequent interactions between civilian motorists and military convoys.

Pedestrians, boda-boda riders and security escorts continue to face the highest risk, with human error, particularly reckless driving accounting for over 70% of fatal accidents. Authorities have consistently urged stronger enforcement of traffic laws and improved driver discipline to reduce the escalating death toll.

Mao called for calm following the incident and reassured the public: “I wish to assure everybody that I’m well. We only did our civic duty to assist the victims.”

Police are yet to release their official findings on what caused the collision.