Truck driver drove through roadblock before plunging into R. Nile—ministry

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The driver, whose truck plunged into the River Nile claiming the lives of three people on the night of January 26, 2026, ran through a roadblock before plunging into River Nile, Police have said.

The crash happened at about 7:00pm when the truck, carrying maize from Gulu, was stopped by Police officers at a roadblock at Karuma Junction but failed to comply.

“The driver refused to stop and instead drove through the roadblock,” works ministry head of communications Susan Kataike said today, January 27.

According to the ministry’s first incident report, the truck driver lost control upon reaching Karuma Bridge and plunged into the river below.

Kataike said “There is no structural damage to the bridge. However, the truck appears to be lodged against one of the bridge piers in the river”.

She added that a preliminary assessment by engineers showed that only about six metres of guard rails were deformed, with no damage detected on the bridge’s main structure.

The Fuso truck was transporting maize from Lela Obaro in Bobi sub-county, Nwoya district, to Kololo in Kiryandongo district at the time of the crash.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing, while recovery efforts are being planned by the relevant authorities

Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura today told New Vision Online that all three occupants died at the scene.

“One of the victims attempted to jump out of the vehicle but hit his head on the road and died instantly, while the truck overturned into the river with the other occupants trapped inside,” Kananura said.

By the time of filing this report, only one body had been retrieved from the river as rescue teams continued search and recovery operations amid strong currents.

Police said preliminary findings point to speeding as the likely cause of the accident, though investigations are still ongoing to establish the exact circumstances.

Authorities have urged motorists, especially those driving heavy commercial vehicles, to observe speed limits and exercise caution when approaching bridges and other high-risk sections of the highway to avoid similar tragedies.