A tragic road accident unfolded in Kaharo sub-county, Kabale district, claiming the life of a 58-year-old German tourist, Dr. Wendsche Ralf Steffen, and leaving two others injured. The incident occurred on the Kabale-Mbarara Highway at Kabaraga hill corners, highlighting the inherent risks of travel, even amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Uganda.
The unfortunate event took place on a Saturday morning around 09:00 am. Dr. Steffen, accompanied by Silk Venus, 48, another German tourist, and their Ugandan driver, Morgan Nyombi, 60, was traveling in a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number UAX 567C. The trio was returning from the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where they had embarked on a gorilla tracking adventure, headed towards Kampala.
The collision transpired when a Fuso Fighter lorry with registration number UBH009B, traveling at high speed towards Kabale from Mbarara, overtook another vehicle at the Kabaraga hill corners. The lorry struck the tourist vehicle, resulting in the tragic demise of Dr. Wendsche Ralf Steffen at the scene. Silk Venus and Morgan Nyombi sustained injuries and were promptly rushed to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for medical attention.
Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, revealed that the yet-to-be-identified driver of the lorry fled the scene following the collision. Both the Fuso lorry and the tourist vehicle were subsequently towed to Kabale Police Station as investigations into the incident commenced. Maate attributed the accident to the reckless driving behavior of the lorry driver.
The deceased’s body was transported to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem examination. The German embassy in Uganda has been notified about the tragic incident, marking an international dimension to this unfortunate occurrence.
