German tourist Dr Wendsche dies in Mbarara highway accident

A 58-year-old German tourist, Dr Wendsche Ralf Steffen died in a Saturday morning motor accident along the Kabale-Mbarara highway in Kaharo sub-county, Kabale district.

Kigezi region police commander, Ibrahim Saiga said the deceased was travelling together with Silk Venus, 48, also a German tourist, and their Ugandan driver, Morgan Nyombi aged 60 who survived with injuries. 

According to Saiga, the accident happened at the Kabaraga hill corners in Kaharo sub-county when a speeding Fuso fighter lorry, registration number, UBH 009B that was heading towards Kabale direction from Mbarara overtook another vehicle.  

In the process, it knocked the tourist vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, registration number UAX 567C that was returning from Bwindi impenetrable national park for gorilla tracking to Kampala. Wendsche died on the spot while Venus and Nyombi were rushed to Kabale regional referral hospital with multiple injuries.   

Wendsche's body has also been taken to Kabale regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem. Elly Maate, police spokesperson for the Kigezi region says the driver of the yet-to-be-identified driver of the lorry took off immediately after the accident. 

He also says that both vehicles have been towed to Kabale police station as investigations into the matter continue. Maate attributes the accident to the lorry driver’s reckless driving. He adds that the German embassy in Uganda has already been informed about the incident.