Rajiv Ruparelia Car Crash: Busabala Flyover Contractor Under Fire over ‘Unmarked Pavement Barriers’
The wreckage of Rajiv's white Nissan GTR (UAT 638L) that crashed, overturned and caught fire at Busabala flyover
Public scrutiny has turned to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) after a tragic road crash involving a Nissan GTR—dubbed “Godzilla” for its immense power—claimed the life of businessman Rajiv Ruparelia in the early hours of Saturday.
Rajiv, 35, died instantly when his car struck unmarked pavement barriers at the Busabala Flyover near Kibiri Junction, overturned, and burst into flames.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:54 AM as the vehicle traveled from Kajjansi toward Munyonyo.
Eyewitness Frank Mwesigye, who arrived moments after the crash, blamed the road design and lack of warning signage for the fatality.
“Very saddened by the passing of Rajiv Ruparelia,” Mwesigye wrote. “Around 2:15 am, while I was returning from Entebbe, I witnessed the tragic scene. I was nearly involved in a similar accident myself. The construction of this junction is extremely dangerous, and the contractors should be held accountable. During the daytime, there are no visible barriers, but strangely at night, barriers are placed without any warning signs. This is misleading and dangerous.”
The Busabala Flyover is part of the Najjanankumbi–Busabala Road upgrade project, which was contracted to China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) in 2021 by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).
The Shs 258 billion project covers 11 kilometres of upgraded roads, including the Munyonyo Spur interchange, four flyover interchanges, two pedestrian overpasses, service roads, and other supporting facilities.
The project is intended to improve connectivity between Entebbe Expressway and the Kampala Southern Bypass, but this latest incident has raised serious concerns about its safety standards—particularly at night.
Traffic report
Traffic Police Spokesperson Michael Kananura confirmed the details of the crash, saying investigations are ongoing.
“Preliminary findings indicate the vehicle collided with temporary pavements installed at the roundabout section of the flyover. The vehicle overturned and caught fire, leading to the instant death of the driver. We are reviewing all circumstances, including signage, visibility, and contractor compliance.”
Rajiv was driving a Nissan GTR, a twin-turbocharged, 565-horsepower sports car capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds.
Known globally as a supercar with elite performance and cutting-edge control systems, the GTR is designed for precision—but even such engineering cannot withstand unmarked obstacles at high speed.
Police officers on the scene included ASP Mutoni Elinar, Officer-in-Charge at Kibiri Police Post, and ASP Asiimwe Colleb, OC Operations at Katwe Police Station.
The Uganda Police Fire Brigade responded promptly, though the vehicle had already been engulfed in flames.
This crash comes as Uganda grapples with an alarming rise in road fatalities. Police records show 5,144 road deaths in 2024 alone, averaging 14 deaths per day.
While many accidents involve motorcycles and pedestrians, incidents on modern highways like the Entebbe Expressway underscore the broader issues of design failures and poor contractor oversight.
As tributes continue to pour in for Rajiv—a respected entrepreneur, rally driver, and philanthropist—the focus is also shifting to accountability.
The China State Construction Engineering Corporation, one of the world’s largest infrastructure companies, is now under pressure to explain how such a critical section of road could be left so dangerously unmarked at night.
For many Ugandans, the twisted wreckage of the “Godzilla” Nissan GTR is more than the aftermath of a crash—it is a symbol of what happens when world-class vehicles are betrayed by substandard infrastructure.
