By Michelle Ndaga
At least 63 people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in a devastating road crash that occurred early this morning at 12:15 a.m. along the Kampala-Gulu Highway, near Asili Farm in Kitaleeba Village.
According to a statement from the Uganda Police Force, the crash involved four vehicles: a Nile Star Coaches Isuzu bus (registration UBF 614X), a Toyota Surf (CGO 5132AB 07), a Tata Lorry (UBK 647C), and another Isuzu bus (UAM 045V) belonging to Planet Company.
Initial investigations reveal that the driver of the Nile Star bus, travelling from Kampala towards Gulu, attempted to overtake the Tata Lorry.
At the same moment, the Planet Company bus, coming from the opposite direction, also tried to overtake the Toyota Surf. Both buses collided head-on during the manoeuvre. One of the drivers swerved in an attempt to avoid the crash, triggering a chain reaction that led to multiple vehicles overturning several times.
All passengers in the involved vehicles were either killed or injured. The injured were rushed to Kiryandongo Hospital and nearby medical facilities, while the deceased were taken to the hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations and identification.
Police have urged motorists to avoid reckless overtaking, highlighting it as one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in Uganda.
Investigations into the accident are ongoing.
