A catastrophic multi-vehicle collision on the Kampala–Gulu Highway has claimed the lives of at least 46 people and left several others injured. The accident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at approximately 12:15 a.m. in Kitaleba Village near Asili Farm in Kiryandongo District, was confirmed by the Spokesperson of the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, SP Michael Kananura.
According to initial investigations, four vehicles were involved. These include an Isuzu bus, registration UBF 614X, operated by Nile Star Coaches, travelling from Kampala towards Gulu; another Isuzu bus, registration UAM 045V, belonging to Planet Company, travelling in the opposite direction; a Toyota Surf, registration CGO 5132AB 07, which was reportedly being overtaken at the time of the incident; and a Tata lorry, registration UBK 647C, which was also involved in the events leading up to the crash.
SP Kananura applauded the Police for arriving at the scene early and promptly transporting the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital and other nearby medical facilities.
“As investigations continue, we strongly urge all motorists to exercise maximum caution on the roads, especially avoiding dangerous and careless overtaking,” said SP Kananura.
Earlier on, the police issued a statement claiming 63 people had perished in the accident, but has corrected the number in another statement to 46.
New police statement issued confirming 46 people who perished in the accident
This marks one of the worst road accidents in Uganda in recent years. The highway in question is a major route linking Kampala with northern Uganda and has repeatedly been flagged for safety concerns, especially regarding night travel, overtaking, and mixed traffic.
The Uganda Police extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a quick recovery. They further warned that careless overtaking continues to kill people, urging all drivers to be patient and responsible, as no destination is worth a life.
Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing, and the wreckage remains on the scene pending forensic examination.
Authorities have emphasized the need for tighter regulation of nighttime bus travel, strict enforcement of speed and overtaking rules on the Kampala–Gulu Highway, and improved emergency response capacity given the heavy volume of long-distance passenger traffic.
As the nation mourns, the loss highlights persistent challenges in road safety across Uganda. The task now for authorities is not only to determine accountability for this tragedy but also to implement systemic changes to prevent such occurrences in the future.
