In the early hours of Wednesday, October 22, 2025, tragedy struck Uganda’s busy Kampala–Gulu Highway when a catastrophic collision involving two buses, a truck, and a car claimed the lives of 46 people and left several others injured. The accident, which occurred around 12:15 a.m. near the village of Kitaleba, has been described by authorities and witnesses as one of the deadliest road disasters in Uganda in decades, according to multiple reports including Reuters, Associated Press, and GZERO.
Initial investigations by the Uganda Police Force revealed that the chain of events began when both buses, traveling in opposite directions, attempted to overtake other vehicles almost simultaneously. One bus, an Isuzu with the license plate UBF 614X, was heading from Kampala towards Gulu and tried to overtake a Tata lorry (UBK 647C). At the same time, the second bus (UAM 045V) traveling in the opposite direction was also overtaking a Toyota Surf (CGO 5132AB 07). The two buses collided head-on during these risky overtaking maneuvers, triggering a devastating chain reaction that involved a truck and a car. The force of the impact caused two vehicles to lose control and overturn several times, as reported by Reuters and the Uganda Police Force.
The aftermath was nothing short of horrific. Wreckage littered the highway, and emergency responders rushed to the scene to extract victims from the mangled remains of the vehicles. According to a police spokesperson cited by the Associated Press, "One of the drivers swerved in an attempt to avoid a collision, but this resulted in a head-on and side collision, causing a chain reaction that led to other vehicles losing control and overturning several times." The magnitude of the crash was so great that Irene Nakasiita, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross, remarked, "The magnitude of this incident is so big," noting that many images from the scene were too gruesome to share.
Initially, authorities feared the worst, with early reports suggesting 63 people had perished. However, after careful verification at local hospitals, the death toll was revised down to 46. The Uganda Police Force clarified on social media that some victims found unconscious at the scene were mistakenly included in the initial fatality count. "At the time of the crash, several victims were found unconscious, and some may have been mistakenly included in the initial fatality count," police explained in an updated statement shared on X (formerly Twitter). "We are working in close coordination with health and emergency services to ensure accurate and timely updates as the situation develops."
The injured were rushed to Kiryandongo Hospital and other nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment. As of Wednesday morning, the identities of many of the deceased had not yet been established, leaving families across the region anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
President Yoweri Museveni, who was campaigning for January’s general election near the accident scene, extended his condolences to the bereaved families. In a gesture of support, he announced that the government would provide five million shillings (about $1,430) to each family that lost a loved one in the tragedy, as reported by GZERO. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a quick recovery to the injured," the Uganda Police Force said in a public statement.
This latest crash has once again drawn attention to the perilous state of Uganda’s roads. Deadly bus crashes are all too common in the country, and the numbers are sobering. According to official police figures cited by the Associated Press, 5,144 people were killed in road crashes in Uganda in 2024, a rise from 4,806 in 2023 and 4,534 in 2022. The police’s latest crime report attributes 44.5% of all crashes in 2024 to careless overtaking and speeding. Road safety advocate Joseph Beyanga highlighted the particular danger of the stretch of highway where the collision occurred, noting that it is "even narrower than most highways in Uganda. When big trucks are overtaking each other, there’s hardly any space left."
Poorly maintained roads, lack of streetlights, and inadequately trained drivers all contribute to the high rate of fatal accidents. The area near Kitaleba village, where the accident occurred, is especially notorious for its narrow lanes, making overtaking maneuvers even riskier. The absence of sufficient lighting at night further compounds the danger, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic mistakes.
Authorities have responded to the tragedy with renewed calls for road safety. "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," police officials emphasized. The message is clear: stricter adherence to traffic regulations and greater caution behind the wheel are desperately needed to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
The government’s response has included not only financial support for the victims’ families but also a promise to review traffic enforcement and road safety campaigns. However, critics argue that more systemic changes are needed, including better road maintenance, improved driver training programs, and stronger penalties for traffic violations. With approximately 12 people dying in traffic accidents in Uganda every day, according to government statistics, the urgency for reform is palpable.
The Kampala–Gulu Highway, a vital artery connecting the capital to the country’s north, remains a lifeline for thousands of travelers and commercial vehicles each day. Yet, as this week’s tragedy has shown, it is also a corridor fraught with danger. The sight of the wrecked buses parked at a police station in Kiryandongo district, as captured by Reuters photographers, stands as a grim reminder of the lives lost and the urgent need for action.
As families mourn their loved ones and survivors recover in hospitals, the nation is left grappling with difficult questions: How many more lives must be lost before meaningful change is enacted? Will this latest tragedy finally spur the government and the public to address the root causes of Uganda’s road safety crisis?
For now, the country mourns, united in grief and in the hope that lessons learned from this devastating event will lead to safer roads for all Ugandans.
