KIRYANDONGO — At least 63 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured following a devastating road accident that occurred early Tuesday morning at Kitaleba Village, near Asili Farm, along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.
The tragedy happened at about 12:15 a.m. and involved four motor vehicles, including two passenger buses, a lorry, and a private car. According to a statement issued by Kananura Michael, the Community Liaison and Public Relations Officer at the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety under the Uganda Police Force, the crash claimed dozens of lives and left many others with serious injuries.
Initial police findings indicate that the accident occurred when the driver of an Isuzu bus belonging to Nile Star Coaches, registration number UBF 614X, which was travelling from Kampala toward Gulu, attempted to overtake a Tata lorry, registration number UBK 647C, at the scene of the crash.
At the same time, another Isuzu bus belonging to the Planet Company, registration number UAM 045V, was travelling from the opposite direction and also trying to overtake a Toyota Surf, registration number CGO 5132AB 07.
During these simultaneous overtaking manoeuvres, the two buses met head-on. One of the drivers is said to have swerved in an effort to avoid the collision, but this only resulted in a head-on and side impact that caused a chain reaction, forcing other vehicles to lose control and overturn several times. The impact was catastrophic, instantly killing dozens of passengers and injuring several others.
Police confirmed that all the 63 fatalities were occupants of the vehicles involved in the crash. Rescue teams arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and transported the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital and other nearby medical facilities for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the same hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations and identification.
Kananura said the police acted swiftly to coordinate rescue operations, clear the wreckage, and restore the flow of traffic on the highway. He cautioned motorists to exercise maximum discipline and avoid reckless overtaking, which continues to be one of the leading causes of deadly crashes on Ugandan roads.
“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,” Kananura said.
The identities of the victims had not been made public by the time of reporting, as efforts to notify their families were still underway.
The Kampala–Gulu Highway is one of Uganda’s busiest and most vital transport routes, linking the northern region to the capital. However, it has become notorious for frequent fatal accidents, often blamed on human error, speeding, and poor overtaking habits.
