Tragedy struck in Uganda early Wednesday after two passenger buses collided head-on along the Kampala–Gulu highway in Kiryandongo District, leaving 46 people dead and several others injured, police have confirmed.
Authorities initially reported 63 fatalities, but later revised the number down after clarifying that some unconscious victims had been mistakenly included in the earlier count.
According to a statement released by Uganda Police on X (formerly Twitter), the collision occurred shortly after midnight when one bus attempted to overtake another vehicle, leading to a head-on crash. The impact triggered a chain reaction involving at least four other vehicles including a truck and a Land Cruiser which lost control and overturned multiple times.
Rescue teams worked through the night to recover victims and transport the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital and nearby medical facilities. Images and footage from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of the two buses illuminated by emergency lights.
President Yoweri Museveni expressed deep sorrow over the “tragic accident,” extending condolences to the affected families and urging drivers to exercise caution on the roads.
Uganda has long struggled with poor road safety, with authorities frequently reporting fatal crashes involving buses and trucks on poorly maintained highways. Police have repeatedly called for stricter adherence to traffic rules, but reckless driving and over-speeding remain widespread.
The country’s 2024 crime report recorded a 6% rise in fatal road crashes compared to the previous year, with 4,434 deadly accidents and over 5,100 deaths.
Recent incidents underscore the scale of the problem:
- In April 2025, ten people were killed when a bus overturned in western Uganda.
- In August, 20 traders lost their lives after a truck carrying them overturned.
- Last year, 26 people perished on the same Kampala–Gulu highway after a truck exploded following a crash.
- In 2023, 21 died and 49 were injured in a bus crash near the Kenya–Uganda border.
The Kampala–Gulu highway, a critical transport corridor connecting the capital to northern Uganda, has become one of the country’s most dangerous roads a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved road infrastructure, driver training, and enforcement of traffic regulations.
