At least 63 individuals lost their lives following a tragic collision between two buses on a highway in Uganda. According to authorities, the buses were traveling in opposite directions and attempted to pass other vehicles before crashing head-on. The impact led to a chain reaction, resulting in both buses blocking the highway and causing oncoming cars to swerve and overturn in an effort to avoid the wreckage.
Rescue teams arrived at the scene in Kitaleba village to find numerous injured passengers scattered along the roadside. Concerns are high that the casualty count could rise due to the severity of injuries sustained. The collision occurred in the early hours of the morning, with images depicting one bus completely demolished and a car overturned. Workers were seen clearing debris from the site.
In addition to the buses, a Toyota and a Tata lorry truck were also involved in the collision, as reported by the police. Injured passengers have been transported to a hospital in Kiryandongo, while authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. The police emphasized the importance of cautious driving and advised motorists to refrain from risky overtaking, which is a leading cause of accidents in the country.
Uganda has a history of fatal road accidents, often attributed to narrow roads and speeding drivers. In a tragic incident in August, a bus carrying mourners from a funeral in Kenya overturned, resulting in the death of at least 25 individuals. Official police data revealed a concerning increase in road crash fatalities over the years, with 5,144 deaths reported in 2024 compared to 4,806 in 2023 and 4,534 in 2022. Careless overtaking and speeding were identified as major contributors to road accidents, accounting for 44.5% of documented crashes in 2024.
