At least 63 individuals lost their lives following a collision between two buses on a highway in Uganda. The tragic incident occurred when the bus drivers, traveling in opposite directions, tried to overtake other vehicles, leading to a head-on collision. One bus swerved to avoid a crash but ended up striking another coach, both filled with passengers.
The collision caused a chain reaction, resulting in both buses blocking the highway, while nearby cars skidded and overturned in an attempt to evade the wreckage. Emergency teams found numerous injured passengers at the scene in Kitaleba village, with concerns that the casualty count might rise due to severe injuries.
The crash occurred after midnight, with images depicting the severe damage, including a completely wrecked bus and a flipped car. Authorities reported that a Toyota and a Tata lorry truck were also involved in the collision. Injured passengers were rushed to a hospital in Kiryandongo, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the crash’s cause.
According to the police statement, the collision occurred as both buses attempted overtaking maneuvers. Authorities emphasized the importance of cautious driving to prevent such accidents, highlighting dangerous overtaking as a leading cause of crashes in the country.
Uganda has witnessed a concerning increase in road fatalities, with 5,144 deaths recorded in 2024 compared to 4,806 in 2023 and 4,534 in 2022. The police’s latest crime report revealed that reckless overtaking and speeding contributed to 44.5% of all documented crashes in 2024.
