KAMPALA, Uganda 21 October 2025 — At least 46 people were killed and several others injured in a devastating multi-vehicle crash on the Kampala–Gulu Highway early Wednesday, according to the Uganda Police Force. The collision, which involved two passenger buses, a lorry (truck), and a smaller vehicle, is one of the deadliest road accidents recorded in the country in recent years.
The accident occurred shortly after midnight local time at Kitaleba Village, near Asili Farm. Initial investigations suggest the disaster was triggered by dangerous overtaking maneuvers by the drivers of two oncoming buses. The initial police report put the total number of fatalities at 63. The force later clarified that after the crash, some victims went unconscious and were erroneously counted as among the dead.
According to a police statement, the driver of the Isuzu bus (Nile Star Coaches), traveling from Kampala toward Gulu, attempted to overtake a Tata Lorry. Simultaneously, an Isuzu bus (Planet Company) traveling in the opposite direction was also attempting to overtake a Toyota Surf.
”In the process, both buses met head-on during the overtaking maneuvers,” the police statement detailed. One bus driver attempted to swerve to avoid the collision, which resulted in a massive head-on and side collision, causing a chain reaction that led to all involved vehicles losing control and overturning several times.
Police, who arrived promptly at the scene, confirmed that all 46 fatalities were occupants of the involved vehicles. The injured were swiftly transported to Kiryandongo Hospital and other medical facilities, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the same hospital mortuary for post-mortem and identification processes.
Fatal road crashes are distressingly common in Uganda and across the region, often blamed on narrow roads, speeding, and reckless driving, particularly dangerous overtaking. Official figures show a persistent rise in road fatalities, with thousands killed annually.
The Uganda Police Force extended its deepest condolences to the affected families and urged 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.” Investigations into the exact sequence of events are ongoing.
