Tragic Multi-Vehicle Collision Claims 63 Lives on Kampala-Gulu Highway

Kitaleba Village, Uganda — A devastating road accident has claimed the lives of 63 people and left several others injured following a multi-vehicle collision on the Kampala-Gulu Highway on Tuesday morning.

The fatal crash occurred at 12:15 am near Asili Farm in Kitaleba Village, involving four motor vehicles: an Isuzu bus operated by Nile Star Coaches (UBF 614X), another Isuzu bus from Planet Company (UAM 045V), a Tata Lorry (UBK 647C), and a Toyota Surf (CGO 5132AB 07).

What Happened

According to the Uganda Police Force, preliminary investigations reveal that the tragedy unfolded when two buses attempted simultaneous overtaking maneuvers from opposite directions.

The Nile Star Coaches bus, traveling from Kampala towards Gulu, was attempting to overtake the Tata Lorry when it encountered the Planet Company bus coming from the opposite direction. That bus was simultaneously trying to overtake the Toyota Surf.

The two buses collided head-on during the overtaking attempts. In a desperate effort to avoid the collision, one driver swerved, triggering a chain reaction that resulted in a head-on and side collision involving all four vehicles. Multiple vehicles overturned several times, and tragically, all 63 victims were occupants of the involved vehicles.

Emergency Response

Police arrived promptly at the scene and coordinated the emergency response. Injured survivors were rushed to Kiryandongo Hospital and other nearby medical facilities for treatment. The bodies of the deceased were transported to the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations and identification.

Police Warning

SP Kananura Michael, CLO/PRO Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, issued a stern warning to motorists in the wake of the tragedy.

“As investigations continue, we strongly urge all motorists to exercise maximum caution on the roads, especially avoiding dangerous and careless overtaking, which remains one of the leading causes of crashes in the country,” the statement read.

The Uganda Police Force extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a quick recovery to those injured in the accident.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenge of road safety in Uganda, where reckless overtaking continues to be a major contributor to fatal accidents on the nation’s highways.