The vehicle was transporting murder suspect Christopher Okello Onyum, the prime suspect in the killing of four toddlers in Ggaba, for the second day of court proceedings when the crash occurred.
A journalist was seriously injured on Wednesday morning after a vehicle belonging to the Uganda Prisons Service lost control and rammed into members of the media at the Ggaba Community Church Grounds during a mobile High Court session.
According to Rachael Kawala, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, the injured journalist, Ronald Mulwana, 28, was rushed to Mulago National Referral Hospital for treatment shortly after the incident. Other journalists at the scene narrowly escaped without sustaining serious injuries.
The vehicle was transporting murder suspect Christopher Okello Onyum, the prime suspect in the killing of four toddlers in Ggaba, for the second day of court proceedings when the crash occurred.
Eyewitnesses said the Prisons van had begun reversing down a steep ramp near the mobile court venue when it appeared to develop brake failure. The vehicle reportedly accelerated uncontrollably downhill, crashing into journalists who were covering the proceedings.
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Videos circulating on social media show the van picking up speed as it reversed, with reporters scrambling to move out of its path moments before impact. Mulwana is later seen being carried away by bystanders who rushed to assist.
The incident caused panic at the church grounds, where journalists, court officials and members of the public had gathered to follow the high-profile case.
In a statement posted on the Police official X (formerly Twitter) account, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala confirmed that investigations into the crash had commenced.
She said police at Kabalagala had registered a serious road traffic accident that occurred at around 9:00 a.m. on April 15, 2026, at Ggaba Trading Centre, between Maranatha Primary School and Maranatha High School.
According to police, the accident involved a Toyota Hiace vehicle, registration number UU 00067 T, which was transporting a suspect identified as Okello. The vehicle is alleged to have developed brake failure upon reaching the mobile court premises, leading to the collision with Mulwana, who was described as a pedestrian.
Police confirmed that the injured journalist was rushed to Mulago Hospital for treatment.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the suspected mechanical failure and the crash are ongoing.