FIVE people, including four nuns of the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, have died in a road accident after the vehicle they were traveling in collided with a construction truck in Bukumbi, Misungwi District.

The deceased are Sr. Nelina Semeoni (60), the Superior General of the order worldwide from Italy; Sr. Lilian Kapongo (55) from Tabora; Sr. Damaris Matheka (51), head of Bukumbi Girls’ Secondary School and a Kenyan national; Sr. Stellamaris Kamene (48) from Kenya; and Boniphace Msonola (53), the driver and resident of Bukumbi.

The Mwanza Regional Police Commander, DCP Wilbroad Mutafungwa, confirmed the accident occurred on September 15, 2025, at around 1:50 a.m.

He explained that the accident took place on the Usagara-Kigongo Ferry road and involved a Toyota Land Cruiser (registration T 852 DGP) belonging to Bukumbi Girls’ Secondary School and a Sino Truck (registration T 541 DCH) owned by Nyanza Road Works.

According to DCP Mutafungwa, the Land Cruiser carrying the nuns veered to the right after leaving Kigongo Ferry and collided with the truck traveling from Usagara to Kigongo Ferry, resulting in the deaths of five people.

He added that one person, Sr. Pauline Vicent (20), a student supervisor at Bukumbi Secondary School, was injured and is receiving treatment at Bugando Regional Hospital, where the bodies of the deceased have also been preserved.

“The driver of truck T 541 DCH, Venance Mashaka (61) from Buhongwa, is being held for further questioning regarding the accident,” he said.