At least 63 killed in Uganda highway crash involving buses and other vehicles

Kampala: At least 63 people have died in a horrific highway crash in western Uganda after two buses and two other vehicles collided while attempting to overtake other traffic, police confirmed on Wednesday. The accident occurred just after midnight near the town of Kiryandongo on the main highway connecting Kampala to Gulu, a major city in northern Uganda.

According to police, both bus drivers were travelling in opposite directions when they tried to overtake other vehicles at the same time, leading to a fatal head-on collision. “In the process, both buses met head-on during the overtaking manoeuvres,” the police statement read.

Several others were seriously injured and have been taken to a nearby government hospital for treatment. The Uganda Red Cross described the crash as one of the most severe in recent years, with rescue workers finding victims bleeding and suffering multiple fractures. “The magnitude of this incident is so big,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Irene Nakasiita, who added that the scene was too gruesome to share images from.

Fatal road crashes are common across Uganda and East Africa, often linked to speeding and poor overtaking on narrow roads. In August, a similar tragedy in southwestern Kenya left 25 people dead when a bus carrying mourners overturned and fell into a ditch.

Ugandan police data shows a rising trend in road fatalities — 5,144 people were killed in 2024, up from 4,806 in 2023 and 4,534 in 2022. The 2024 police crime report identified careless overtaking and speeding as the causes of nearly 45% of all road accidents.

“As investigations continue, we strongly urge all motorists to exercise maximum caution on the roads, especially avoiding dangerous and careless overtaking, which remains one of the leading causes of crashes in the country,” police said in their latest statement.

The Kiryandongo crash took place around midnight local time when two passenger buses travelling in opposite directions attempted to overtake vehicles on a stretch of the busy Kampala–Gulu highway. Both drivers reportedly misjudged the distance and collided head-on, dragging two smaller vehicles into the impact.

Police and emergency services responded quickly, but the scale of the wreckage made rescue efforts difficult in the darkness. Witnesses said several victims were trapped inside the buses, and it took hours to retrieve bodies and injured passengers.

Ugandan Red Cross teams arrived shortly after dawn to assist survivors. “Most of the bodies have been taken to the hospital mortuary. Many passengers suffered broken limbs and head injuries,” Nakasiita said.

Road safety experts have warned of an increasing pattern of reckless overtaking and fatigue among long-distance bus drivers operating at night. Uganda’s road infrastructure, often poorly lit and narrow in rural areas, adds to the danger.

Authorities have since announced that the accident investigation will look into whether mechanical failure, speeding, or driver negligence played a role.

According to official police figures, Uganda’s road crash deaths have been rising steadily for three consecutive years, with nearly 45% of accidents in 2024 attributed to speeding and dangerous overtaking.

Police reiterated that enforcement of traffic safety regulations, including speed governors and stricter penalties for reckless driving, will be stepped up in the coming months.
(With AP inputs)