Uganda: At least 46 people killed in highway bus collision

World Wednesday 22/October/2025 13:56 PM
By: DW
Uganda: At least 46 people killed in highway bus collision

Kampala: Police in Uganda say at least 46 people died in a bus crash on the highway linking the country's capital, Kampala, with the northern city of Gulu.

The collision involved two long-distance buses and at least two other vehicles, including a truck and a sport utility vehicle.

According to the Uganda Police Force, the crash happened when both buses attempted to overtake other vehicles at the same time, colliding head-on.

Officials described a chain reaction that caused several vehicles to overturn. Rescue teams rushed survivors to nearby hospitals, though police did not specify how many were injured or their condition.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed condolences to the victims while campaigning nearby for January's general election. "This tragic loss of life is deeply saddening," he said in a brief statement posted on social media.

Police later clarified that the initial death toll of 63 had been revised down to 46 after some passengers initially thought to be dead were found unconscious at the scene.

Road accidents are common in Uganda and across much of East Africa, often blamed on reckless driving, poor road conditions, and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws. A police report released earlier this year said more than 5,000 people were killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024.