By Mike Rwothomio 

A student of Nebbi Town Secondary School has died, while 10 other people were injured after a Toyota Noah carrying football players collided with a truck along the Arua–Nebbi Highway in Arua City.

The deceased has been identified as 19-year-old Mungudit Alfred, a Senior Five student and resident of Afere Cell in Nebbi Municipality.

The ten victims who sustained serious injuries include Ocaya Keifa, 20, Jayikrwoth Trevor, 21, Opio Regan, 25, Rwothomiyo Stephen, 25, Jumaroch Gibon, 26, Odongo Crespo, 19, Mungutimo Colbert, 22, Oyirwoth Calvin, 22, Mungujakisa Ivan, 20, and Jawiambe Brian, 23. All are male passengers and residents of Afere Cell and other areas within Nebbi District.

The accident occurred at about 2:50pm on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Arua Hill Cell, Awindiri Ward, Arua City Central Division.

According to West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia, the Toyota Noah, registration number UAQ 683B, was transporting players of Saint Denis Afere Football Club from Nebbi to Muni University for a football match when it collided with an oncoming Sino truck, registration number UA 530CL.

Angucia said preliminary accounts indicate that the Noah driver was attempting to overtake several vehicles when he encountered the truck travelling from Arua towards Nebbi. In an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, the driver reportedly swerved to the right, but the truck struck the Noah and pushed it off the road.

"It's alleged that on Sunday 08th November 2026 at About 2:50pm, both Motor vehicles with numbers UA530CL Howo Sino Truck and M/V UAQ 683B Toyota Noah white in colour were coming from opposite direction, and M/V UAQ 683B Toyota Noah was from Nebbi district loaded with football players of Saint Denis Afere in Nebbi heading to Muni university for a football match. While at Arua Hill the driver started overtaking several vehicles and met with on coming truck registration number UA 530CL white in colour which was heading to Nebbi side from Arua City" Angucia said.

West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia said both drivers fled the scene and are being pursued. The two vehicles have been impounded at Arua Central Police Station for inspection.

The 10 injured passengers were rushed to Arua Regional Referral Hospital by police and Red Cross teams. Alfred died upon arrival at the hospital

Police say investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing under reference TAR 216/2026.

The crash comes amid rising road safety concerns across the country. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, Uganda registered 26,044 road crashes, representing a 3.7 per cent increase from 25,107 crashes recorded in 2024.

The report further indicates that 4,602 crashes were fatal, claiming 5,383 lives, while 18,444 people sustained serious injuries in 2025. Uganda Police Force.The vehicle involved in the crash

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.