The deadly crash prompted a four vehicle pile-up on a busy highway.
At least 63 people died (Image: X/ @ntvuganda)
A horror crash overnight left at least 46 people dead. The harrowing incident saw two buses, which were travelling in opposite directions, smashing head-on on a busy highway in Uganda while they were both attempting to overtake cars, according to initial investigations.
As one of the buses reportedly swerved across the road to try to avoid crashing, it collided with the other coach, which was also full of passengers at the time, according to initial investigations. Police have said that all occupants from the involved vehicles have sustained injuries. The crash then caused a “chain reaction”, the Uganda Police Force said, that led to “other vehicles losing control and overturning several times” as they attempted to avoid the smash. Dozens of people were found injured by the roadside when emergency services arrived at the scene in Kitaleba village in the Yumbe District of northern Uganda. Police have said they fear the number of casualties may rise due to the severity of some of the injuries. While an updated report claims 46 people have been confirmed dead, police have said earlier 63 people had lost their lives.
Dozens of people have been confirmed dead and several others injured (Image: UKNIP)
The horrific accident took place on the Kampala-Gulu Highway at 00:15am local time, the Ugandan Police Force has said.
The buses involved were from two separate companies – Planet Company and Nile Star Coaches. A Toyota and a Tata lorry, the vehicles the buses were attempting to overtake, were badly damaged.
An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the crash. The bodies of the deceased were conveyed to a hospital mortuary for post-mortem and identification.
Director of Traffic and Road Safety for the Uganda Police Force, Kananura Michael, said in a statement: “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.
In August 2024, 16 people were killed in a bus crash on the same highway in northern Uganda (Image: Getty)
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a quick recovery to the injured.”
At least 16 people were killed and 21 others were injured after a Gulu-bound bus crashed into a stationary trailer on the same highway in northern Uganda in August 2024.
At the time, traffic police said that 104 road crashes had been reported across Uganda between December 30, 2022 and January 1. In 28 of them, people had lost their lives, Assistant Supt of Police Faridah Nampiima said, according to africanews.
