At least forty-six people have been confirmed dead following a devastating multi-vehicle crash on Uganda’s Kampala-Gulu Highway, police have said.
The collision involved two passenger buses, a lorry and a private car, turning one of the country’s busiest routes into a scene of destruction and grief.
Authorities revised the initial death toll of 63 after confirming that several victims earlier believed to be dead were instead unconscious and receiving medical treatment.
The crash occurred shortly after midnight at 00:15 local time (21:15 GMT), when two buses traveling in opposite directions collided head-on as one attempted to overtake a lorry and a smaller car.
Police said one of the buses swerved sharply to avoid an impact but instead triggered a chain reaction that caused multiple vehicles to lose control and overturn.
The Kampala-Gulu Highway connects Uganda’s capital with its northern region and is one of the most heavily used transport corridors in East Africa.
Witnesses described a horrific scene, with mangled vehicles, scattered debris and emergency responders struggling to pull survivors from the wreckage.
Local residents and first responders rushed to assist before police and paramedics arrived. Dozens of injured passengers were evacuated to hospitals in Kiryandongo and nearby towns.
A statement from the Uganda Police Force said investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the collision and whether speeding or reckless overtaking were factors.
“The accident resulted from dangerous overtaking which caused a head-on and side collision involving several vehicles,” police said.
They added that all regional police units and emergency services were working together to identify victims and provide accurate updates as rescue efforts continued.
Health officials confirmed that emergency teams have been deployed to multiple hospitals to treat the injured and provide psychological support to survivors.
President Yoweri Museveni expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing it as one of the country’s deadliest road accidents in recent years.
In a public statement shared with The Daily National News, President Museveni said, “I have learned of this tragic accident with sadness and extend my heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families.”
He called for calm and urged all road users to exercise greater caution on Uganda’s highways to prevent similar disasters.
The president also directed that each bereaved family receive financial assistance of five million Ugandan shillings (about $1,430) and that those injured be given one million shillings each to help with medical expenses.
Officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport said an expert team will assess the crash site to review safety standards along the Kampala-Gulu Highway.
Road safety activists have long warned that overtaking, speeding and fatigue among long-distance bus drivers are leading causes of fatal crashes in Uganda.
Police data show that hundreds of people die annually on Uganda’s highways, many of them in night-time collisions involving commercial vehicles.
Following the latest tragedy, the police renewed calls for drivers to avoid “dangerous and careless overtaking,” labeling it one of the country’s most persistent road safety problems.
Traffic officers have been ordered to increase patrols along major routes during night hours and conduct random checks for speeding and mechanical faults.
Witnesses said some of the buses involved were traveling at high speed shortly before the crash, though investigators have yet to release official findings.
Survivors told The Daily National News that one of the buses appeared to lose control while overtaking on a curve, causing vehicles behind it to swerve into oncoming traffic.
By morning, twisted metal and shattered glass lined the highway as police cleared debris to reopen one lane for emergency transport.
Local communities gathered to mourn the victims, many of whom were traveling home for family visits and business trips. The government has declared three days of mourning to honor the dead.
Ugandan authorities have promised a full investigation into the accident, vowing to hold accountable any drivers or companies found to have violated traffic safety regulations.
