46 dead in Kampala–Gulu highway horror crash

At least 46 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured following a devastating road crash that occurred early Wednesday morning at Kitaleba Village, near Asili Farm, along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.

According to a press statement issued by the Uganda Police Force, the crash occurred at around 12:15 a.m. and involved four motor vehicles, two passenger buses, a Toyota Surf, and a Tata lorry.

The vehicles have been identified as:

UBF 614X, Isuzu bus (Nile Star Coaches)
UAM 045V, Isuzu bus (Planet Company)
UBK 647C, Tata Lorry
CGO 5132AB 07, Toyota Surf

Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver of the Nile Star bus, travelling from Kampala toward Gulu, attempted to overtake the Tata lorry at a dangerous stretch of the road. At the same time, the Planet Company bus, coming from the opposite direction, was also overtaking another vehicle — the Toyota Surf.

The simultaneous overtaking manoeuvres resulted in a head-on collision, triggering a chain reaction that caused the other vehicles to overturn multiple times.

“One of the drivers swerved in an attempt to avoid collision, but this resulted in a head-on and side impact, leading to the tragic outcome,”
said SP Michael Kananura, spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety.

Police and emergency responders rushed to the scene, transporting the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital and nearby medical facilities. Bodies of the deceased were taken to the same hospital mortuary for identification and post-mortem examinations.

Revised death toll

An initial police statement reported 63 fatalities, but this figure was later revised to 46 after hospital officials confirmed that several victims initially presumed dead were found unconscious and later revived.

“We are working closely with health and emergency services to ensure accurate and timely updates as the situation develops,”
SP Kananura added in an updated statement.

Government response

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni expressed his condolences to the bereaved families in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing the crash as a “tragic and avoidable loss of life.”

“I have learnt with sadness about the tragic accident that occurred this morning along the Kampala–Gulu highway, claiming many lives,”
President Museveni wrote.
“I extend my condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a quick recovery.”

The President also directed the State House Comptroller to provide UGX 5 million to each bereaved family and UGX 1 million to those injured.

Call for road safety

The Uganda Police have urged all motorists to exercise maximum caution, especially by avoiding reckless overtaking one of the leading causes of fatal accidents on Uganda’s highways.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a quick recovery to the injured,”
said SP Kananura.

As investigations continue, authorities are calling for stronger enforcement of road safety regulations to prevent further tragedies on one of the country’s busiest transport corridors.