Kiryandongo, Uganda—Dozens of individuals were tragically killed and many more gravely injured in a catastrophic multi-vehicle highway smash that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning in western Uganda, after two long-distance buses collided head-on.
The devastating incident, which took place in Kiryandongo, approximately 125 miles north of the capital, Kampala, on the main Kampala-Gulu Highway, has precipitated a national dialogue on road safety protocols. Initial reports posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Uganda Red Cross Society cited a preliminary fatality count of 63; however, this figure was later revised down to 46 by the Uganda Police Force, who clarified that the initial tally had mistakenly included some of the injured.
The Uganda Police Force confirmed that the appalling accident was a direct result of highly dangerous driving. Both buses, travelling in opposing directions, were reportedly attempting to overtake other vehicles concurrently, placing them on a direct collision course along the arterial route.
In a desperate, eleventh-hour manoeuvre to avoid impact, one of the drivers swerved, which regrettably precipitated the fatal head-on collision. The severity of the initial impact triggered a devastating chain reaction, causing both a lorry and a private motor car to lose control and overturn.
The Uganda Red Cross reported that the swift response and emergency interventions by its local Kiryandongo team proved instrumental in saving several lives at the horrific scene.
The tragic news drew immediate reaction from the highest office. President Yoweri Museveni expressed profound sadness at the news, extending his sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who perished. In a decisive move to provide immediate support, the President ordered financial disbursements to the affected families. Bereaved families are to receive a payout of $1,430 (USD), while those who sustained injuries will receive $286 (USD) to assist with medical and recovery costs.
The Police have since opened a formal investigation into the crash, working collaboratively with local health and emergency agencies to ascertain the definitive casualty numbers and ensure the release of accurate information to the public.
Concurrently, law enforcement issued a stark warning to the motoring public against “dangerous and careless overtaking,” citing such ill-advised manoeuvres as one of the country’s principal causes of fatal road accidents.
The catastrophe occurs just ten days after a separate mass casualty event in South Africa, where a bus carrying migrant workers en route to Zimbabwe and Malawi plunged down an embankment, claiming the lives of at least 42 people.