A devastating accident that occurred on Wednesday night on the Lwakhakha-Mbale highway in Mbale district has claimed the lives of three people and injured many more.

A speeding vehicle, a black Toyota Harrier, rammed into a procession of Kadodi dancers at the Nangwasi cell in Nabumali Town Hall.

According to eyewitnesses and local leaders, the driver lost control of the vehicle as he approached the group of dancers.

“Police responded quickly and transported the injured to the nearest hospital, where several remain in critical condition,” said Moses Kutosi, president of LC3. Kutosi confirmed that three people died at the scene, contradicting initial reports of two deaths.

The police statement revealed that 13 people were seriously injured, the deceased were taken to the Mbale town mortuary and the injured were taken to the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for medication.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, exploring possibilities of mechanical failure or driver error.

Resident Ms Juliet Kakai emphasized the need for better security measures to prevent future tragedies during Kadodi celebrations.

“We need to ensure that our cultural events do not become deadly,” he urged.

The incident has raised concerns about the safety of the Kadodi dance, a popular and culturally significant event in the region. Recently, there have been reports of Kadodi dancers vandalizing vehicles trying to pass through their processions.

The vehicles involved were taken to the Mbale Busoba police yard for inspection.

Past incidents
On September 3, 2022, at least five people were confirmed dead in a traffic accident in Sarajevo village, Muyembe sub-county in Bulambuli district.

In September 2022, a group of Kadodi dancers allegedly killed 29-year-old Gerald Chane and injured several people after chaos broke out in Namakwekwe district in the northern city division of Mbale.

In 2006, seven people were killed instantly and eleven seriously injured when a bus rammed into a group of Kadodi dancers on the Iganga-Mbale highway.

In 2018, 10 people were confirmed dead and dozens injured when a truck rammed into Kadodi dancers in Njeru, Buikwe District.

In 2012, 10 people were killed when a taxi ran over Kadodi dancers in Mbale district.