Four people lost their lives on Saturday afternoon after a taxi crashed into a moving train at the Butongole Railway crossing in Bugweri District. Several others were injured in the devastating accident that unfolded along the Mbale–Tirinyi–Iganga highway near Busembatya.
According to early reports from police in Bugweri, the taxi, registration number UBN 282J, was traveling toward Mbale when it reached the railway line and collided with the oncoming train. The force of the impact caused the vehicle to overturn several times, leaving a trail of destruction.
Three passengers died on the spot, while a fourth victim succumbed to injuries shortly after being rushed to Iganga Main Hospital. Other survivors are receiving treatment at the same facility.
Traffic officers arrived quickly, removed the bodies, and worked to clear the road so that movement could resume. The deceased have been taken to the Iganga Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations.
Police say investigations are ongoing to establish whether the driver ignored safety warnings at the railway crossing. ASP Micheal Kasadha, spokesperson for Busoga East Region, urged motorists to approach railway lines with heightened caution, noting that road users must respect all crossing signals to prevent similar tragedies.
He appealed to drivers to remain vigilant, especially at intersections where trains and vehicles meet, stressing that losing lives in such avoidable incidents should serve as a wake-up call to all road users.