At least 63 individuals lost their lives in a tragic incident when two buses collided on a highway in Uganda. The buses, traveling in opposite directions, attempted overtaking maneuvers that led to a head-on collision. The impact caused a chain reaction, resulting in a pile-up on the road as other vehicles tried to avoid the wreckage.
Rescue teams arrived at the scene in Kitaleba village to find numerous injured passengers awaiting assistance. The crash occurred in the early hours of the morning, leaving one bus completely demolished. Images from the scene depicted a car overturned and workers clearing debris from the damaged vehicles.
Among the vehicles involved were a Toyota and a Tata lorry truck, in addition to the two buses. Injured passengers were swiftly transported to a hospital in Kiryandongo, while authorities initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the collision.
Authorities emphasized the importance of road safety, urging motorists to exercise caution and avoid reckless overtaking maneuvers. Uganda has seen a concerning increase in road crash fatalities in recent years, with speeding and careless overtaking accounting for a significant portion of accidents.
Tragically, road accidents are not uncommon in Uganda, where narrow roads and speeding drivers are often cited as contributing factors. In a similar incident in August, a bus carrying mourners overturned in southwestern Kenya, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.
In 2024 alone, 5,144 individuals lost their lives in road crashes in Uganda, marking a concerning rise from previous years. The police report highlighted that careless overtaking and speeding were major factors in a significant percentage of documented crashes.