At least 63 individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident when two buses collided on a highway in Uganda. The drivers of the buses were traveling in opposite directions and attempted to overtake other vehicles, resulting in a head-on collision. One bus swerved to avoid a crash but ended up crashing into the other bus, both carrying passengers at the time.
The collision caused a domino effect, leading to both buses blocking the highway and causing other vehicles to skid and flip in an attempt to avoid the wreckage. Upon arrival at the scene in Kitaleba village, rescue teams found numerous injured passengers on the roadside. Authorities express concerns that the casualty count may rise due to the severity of injuries sustained.
The crash occurred shortly after midnight, with images from the scene depicting the mangled remains of one bus completely wrecked. Additional visuals showed a car overturned and workers clearing debris from the damaged vehicles. Among the vehicles involved in the collision were a Toyota and a Tata lorry truck, as confirmed by the police. Injured passengers were transported to a hospital in Kiryandongo, while authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the crash.
A police statement revealed that the collision happened as both buses attempted overtaking maneuvers. Authorities urge motorists to exercise caution on the roads, particularly avoiding risky overtaking practices, a leading cause of accidents in the country.
Uganda has witnessed a concerning trend of fatal road accidents, often attributed to narrow roads and speeding drivers. In a recent incident in August, a bus carrying mourners from a funeral in southwestern Kenya overturned, resulting in the deaths of at least 25 individuals and multiple injuries.
Official police data for 2024 indicated that 5,144 individuals died in road accidents in Uganda, marking an increase from the previous years. Careless overtaking and speeding were identified as significant contributors to road crashes, accounting for 44.5% of documented incidents in 2024.