Tragedy struck in Uganda as a collision between two buses claimed the lives of at least 63 individuals in a massive highway pile-up.
The fatal incident occurred when the drivers of the buses, traveling in opposite directions, attempted risky overtaking maneuvers and collided head-on. The chaos unfolded as one bus swerved to avoid a collision but ended up crashing into the other packed coach, leading to a cascading impact that left both vehicles strewn across the road. The aftermath was chaotic, with oncoming vehicles skidding and overturning in a desperate bid to evade the wreckage.
Rescuers arriving at the scene in Kitaleba village found numerous injured passengers sprawled along the roadside, with fears mounting over the escalating casualty count due to the severity of injuries sustained.
The crash, occurring post-midnight, left one bus completely mangled, with images depicting the devastating aftermath, including a car overturned and workers clearing debris from the scene.
Other vehicles caught in the collision included a Toyota and a Tata lorry truck. Injured passengers were swiftly transported to a hospital in Kiryandongo, while authorities commenced an inquiry to ascertain the crash’s root cause.
Police emphasized the dangers of reckless overtaking, citing it as a significant factor in the tragic collision, urging motorists to exercise caution on the roads to prevent such catastrophic incidents.
Uganda has witnessed a troubling increase in road fatalities, with official police statistics revealing a rise in deaths and injuries from road crashes in recent years. In 2024 alone, 5,144 individuals lost their lives in road accidents, marking a worrying escalation from previous years.
According to the latest crime report, reckless overtaking and speeding were responsible for a significant portion of documented crashes in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures in the country.
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