Almost 50 dead in Ugandan road crash (PHOTOS)

Four vehicles collided in Kitaleba Village after a dangerous overtaking attempt, police have said

At least 46 people have died and several others were injured in a major road accident on the Kampala-Gulu Highway in Uganda early on Wednesday, police have said.

The crash occurred around 12:15am in Kitaleba Village near Asili Farm and involved four vehicles – two Isuzu buses, a Tata lorry, and a Toyota Surf. Police said initial investigations show that one of the buses attempted to overtake the lorry while another bus, traveling in the opposite direction, was also overtaking another vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision.

One driver reportedly swerved to avoid impact, although this caused a chain reaction that left multiple vehicles overturned.

“We confirm that the total number of fatalities resulting from the tragic fatal crash along the Kampala-Gulu Highway at Kitaleeba Village stands at 46, according to the latest update from the hospital,” police said in a statement. Law enforcement had initially reported 63 deaths, but changed the figures.

Emergency teams transported the injured to Kiryandongo hospital and other nearby facilities, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the same hospital for post-mortem examinations and identification.

Authorities urged motorists to exercise caution and avoid reckless overtaking, adding that it remains one of the leading causes of crashes in Uganda.

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Last August, a head-on collision between a Gateway Bus Company coach and a Fuso truck on the Kampala-Mbarara Highway in Lwengo District killed at least eight people and injured 37 others. Police said the bus driver was speeding and attempted to overtake another vehicle on a curve, failing to notice the oncoming truck.

According to local news agency Monitor, Ugandan police recorded over 25,000 road traffic crashes in 2024, a 6.4% increase from 2023, with 25,808 casualties. Most crashes occurred during daylight hours, peaking between 18:00 and 19:59, and on Sundays.