By Mike Rwothomio 

The death toll from a catastrophic Zombo's Nyagak River road accident has climbed to six, with the body of a Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) officer recovered on Saturday, February 28, 2026, amid ongoing search operations in the fast-flowing Nyagak River.

The incident occurred on Monday, February 23, 2026, at approximately midday, when a commuter taxi (registration UBJ 956G), en route from Hoima to Zombo District, suffered brake failure while negotiating a sharp curve approaching the narrow Nyagak Bridge in Nyapea Sub-county. 

The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into the river, where strong currents swept away or trapped several passengers.

On Saturday February 28, latest fatality, a UPDF officer identified only as Mungukende , was discovered approximately 800 meters downstream from the crash site.

His identity was confirmed through documents found on his person, though family details remain unclear.

Zombo Resident District Commissioner Festus Ayikobua shared a photo of the deceased on social media, appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

This recovery follows the earlier discovery on Friday, February 27, of another victim identified as Kasamba, the LCI Chairperson of Mboira village.

Prior fatalities include:

Sarah Akello

John Adriko

An unnamed female

Joshua , believed to be the taxi conductor

The total confirmed fatalities now stand at six as eight passengers were rescued and received treatment at Nyapea Hospital, with some discharged after treatment for minor injuries.

Those with serious injuries include Monday Stephen (53, Hoima resident) and Kasamba Ronald (32, Anyola, Hoima). Minor injury victims include Thoringo Joyce (35, female), Orach Santorina (female), Abiro Rose (45, female), Acen Scovia (11, female), and several others, including juveniles as young as three months.

The exact number of occupants remains unconfirmed due to fragmented passenger manifests and the chaotic nature of the incident.

Local divers report that the taxi driver remains missing, along with possibly one other person, prompting continued search efforts

Rescue and Recovery Challenges

Community-led rescue teams, comprising local youths and divers, have operated tirelessly since the crash despite limited resources, including inadequate food supplies and equipment.

LCI Chairperson Ezenu Ozelle of Mathawele village, a key member of the response team, confirmed police from Paidha retrieved the UPDF officer's body for postmortem examination.

Divers, including Franco Ongewun ,aka Rasta, and Brian Mungacel, appealed for government support, food provisions, and sustained assistance to maintain operations in the challenging river conditions.

Edward Nyingaling, rescue team leader, emphasized the commitment to recover all missing persons: "We are still continuing with the search until we get all the missing persons."

Investigation 

West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia confirmed the case is registered under Zombo TAR 25/2026 , with preliminary investigations attributing the crash to mechanical failure, specifically brake malfunction, on a high-risk rural route.

The Nyagak Bridge stretch has a notorious accident history, including a similar incident in October 2024 when a beverage truck plunged into the river after a head-on collision.

Road users highlight persistent hazards including sharp curves, steep approaches, narrow bridge design, lack of adequate signage, as some of the factors springboarding the accident rates in the area.

Uganda's 2024 Police Annual Crime Report noted an average of at least 14 daily road fatalities nationwide, underscoring the urgent need for stricter vehicle maintenance enforcement, reduced speeds near bridges and rivers, and infrastructure improvements on accident-prone rural highways.

Divers searching for the bodies.

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub