At least 63 people died in a major Uganda road crash caused by reckless overtaking and speeding.
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At least 63 people died in a major Uganda road crash caused by reckless overtaking and speeding.
A devastating road collision on Uganda’s Kampala-Gulu highway early Wednesday has claimed the lives of at least 63 people, while several others remain injured, according to police.
Preliminary investigations indicate the crash occurred shortly after midnight near Kitaleba Village in Kiryandongo District. The collision involved two long-distance buses and two other vehicles. Both buses were attempting overtaking manoeuvres from opposite directions when they collided head-on, triggering a chain reaction that caused vehicles to overturn.
Rescue teams rushed the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital and other nearby medical facilities, while the bodies of the deceased were transferred to the hospital mortuary for post-mortem and identification. Officials described the scene as one of the most serious traffic tragedies in Uganda in recent years.
Road-safety advocates say reckless overtaking and speeding remain the leading causes of fatal crashes on Ugandan highways. The national road-traffic death toll is rising: in 2024 alone Uganda recorded 5,144 fatalities, up from 4,806 the previous year.
This tragedy underscores the broader risk of heavy-vehicle collisions on long-haul routes in East Africa. Emergency-response capacity, road infrastructure and enforcement remain critical issues.
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