Key points
- Two long-distance buses collide head-on on the Kampala–Gulu Highway
- Uganda Police confirm at least 63 dead, dozens injured
- Victims taken to Kiryandongo and nearby hospitals; rescue efforts ongoing
KAMPALA: At least 63 people were killed early Wednesday when two passenger buses collided head-on along the Kampala–Gulu Highway in western Uganda, police said, marking one of the deadliest road accidents in the country’s recent history.
Police said the death toll could rise as several victims remained in critical condition. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
Uganda Police Force spokesperson Fred Enanga told Reuters that preliminary investigations suggested one of the buses attempted to overtake a slow-moving truck before slamming into an oncoming bus near the Kiryandongo district.
“It was a high-impact collision that involved multiple vehicles, including a lorry and a private car,” Enanga said, adding that rescue teams recovered dozens of bodies from the wreckage.
According to AP News, emergency responders rushed the injured to Kiryandongo and Hoima hospitals, while local volunteers joined in recovery operations at the crash site.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of devastation, with mangled bus frames and debris scattered across the tarmac.
Police officials cited by The Observer Uganda said the collision occurred shortly after midnight on a stretch of road notorious for reckless overtaking.
The Kiryandongo district traffic commander noted that both drivers died instantly and that mechanical failure was not believed to be a factor.
The accident has reignited debate over road safety in Uganda, where more than 5,000 people died in traffic incidents in 2024, according to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report.
Road-safety campaigner Samuel Ssewagudde told The Daily Monitor that “speeding, poor visibility, and disregard for traffic regulations continue to kill thousands every year, especially on long-distance routes.”
Government officials have pledged to strengthen enforcement and driver education programs. The Ministry of Works and Transport said in a statement carried by The Independent Uganda that measures will be intensified “to curb dangerous driving practices and improve highway patrol coverage.”
