Nearly 50 people were killed and several others were hurt when multiple vehicles collided along a highway in Uganda, according to authorities
The Uganda Police Force said the deadly crash occurred on Wednesday at 12:15 a.m. on the Kampala–Gulu Highway at Kitaleba Village
Police initially said 63 people died in the crash, but later revised the death toll to 46, noting that some people who were found unconscious at the scene were still alive.
Authorities said the crash involved two buses, as well as a car and a truck
“According to initial investigations, the driver of UBF 614X Isuzu bus, travelling from Kampala towards Gulu, attempted to overtake the Tata Lorry (UBK 647C) at the aforementioned location,” police said. “Simultaneously, the Isuzu bus (UAM 045V), travelling from the opposite direction, was also attempting to overtake the Toyota Surf (CGO 5132AB 07). In the process, both buses met head-on during the overtaking manoeuvres.”
Police said while one of the drivers swerved to try to avoid the crash, it caused a head-on collision, as well as a chain reaction, with two other vehicles losing control and overturning several times.
Police said people who were hurt were taken to Kiryandongo Hospital and other nearby medical facilities, adding that those who were killed have not been identified.
The death toll is uncommonly high, said Irene Nakasiita, a Red Cross spokeswoman. She said many images from the scene were too gruesome to share.
In Uganda, 5,144 people were killed in road crashes in 2024. That number rose from 4,806 in 2023 and 4,534 in 2022, according to official police figures, which show a rise in the total number of those killed or hurt in road crashes in recent years.
Careless overtaking and speeding accounted for 44.5% of all crashes documented in 2024, the police’s latest crime report said.
