Seven caskets, one tragedy: Family buried in Rukiga after fatal highway crash

Church leaders in Rukiga District pay their respects during a service held on December 29, 2025 at Kyogo Church of Uganda for seven family members who died in a road crash during the festive season.

Grief overwhelmed hundreds of mourners on December 29 as seven members of the same family who died in a road crash were mourned during a church service at Kyoogo Church of Uganda in Kamwezi Sub-county, Rukiga District.

Tears streamed down faces as relatives and friends laid wreaths on seven caskets containing the bodies of Ivan Niwagaba, his wife Brendah Ainembabazi, their five children — Agaba Keron, Masiko Kenen, Atuheire Keisha, Keith Agaba — and Niwagaba’s cousin, Sayuni Turihohabwe. The family perished in a motor road crash on December 27 along the Kampala–Mbarara Highway.

The caskets were lined beside the altar as Kigezi Diocese Bishop Gaddie Akanjuna, led the service. Government was represented by Rukiga Member of Parliament Roland Ndyomugyenyi.

Some mourners at the service questioned their faith, saying it was difficult to comprehend why an entire family would be taken by God at once. But Amos Mwesigwa, a close family friend, said the deaths should be accepted as God’s will.

“It was purely God’s plan to take the deceased in such a way because Ivan who was driving the vehicle in which all perished was a senior driver, not just a learner. We are so grateful to all the people that supported us during this time of grief. We strongly believe it was purely God’s plan to take them in that arrangement,” Mwesigwa said.

Winfred Buyonjo, an aunt to Niwagaba and Sayuni, urged mourners not to blame God. She recounted how she was meant to travel with the family from Kampala for their customary end-of-year gathering but postponed the trip.

“Shortly after the fatal accident, some people believed that I was among the victims because they knew that it was our usual custom of travelling together during such days,” Buyonjo said.

A recorded message from Benon Turyamureba, Niwagaba’s father and Sayuni’s uncle, was played to mourners. Bedridden before the crash, he asked for prayers, saying the deceased children had been a source of comfort during his illness.

“Although I am in deep pain because of my poor health, I am in deep sorrow for the untimely death of my children. I need your support and prayers amidst this situation,” Turyamureba said.

His wife, Kyomugabe Turyamureba, described the loss as terrifying, saying it occurred while she was caring for her sick husband.

Bishop Akanjuna described death as “a thief” and praised the police and well-wishers for retrieving the bodies and supporting the family.

“Losing seven people from one family at ago is not only scaring but very unusual,” he said.

After the service, the bodies were laid to rest at their ancestral home in Rwamasyazo Village, Kamwezi Sub-county.

Relatives and friends lay wreaths during a church service on December 29, 2025, on the caskets containing the bodies of seven members of the same family who died in a fatal festive-season road crash. They were later buried at their ancestral home in Rwamasyazo village, Kamwezi Sub-county, Rukiga District