Deadly Night On Gulu Highway As Two Buses Collide, 46 Confirmed Dead

Tragedy struck in the early hours of Wednesday morning when forty-six people lost their lives in a horrific road crash along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.

The accident, described by authorities as one of the deadliest in recent years, occurred at around 12:15 a.m. at Kitaleba Village near Asili Farm in Nakasongola District. Police confirmed that the collision involved two buses, a truck, and a saloon car, leaving behind scenes of devastation and grief.

According to the Uganda Police, the vehicles involved were an Isuzu bus registration number UBF 614X belonging to Nile Star Coaches, another Isuzu bus UAM 045V operated by Planet Company, a Tata lorry UBK 647C, and a Toyota Surf CGO 5132AB 07. Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash was caused by a reckless overtaking maneuver that resulted in a head-on collision between the two buses.

The report indicates that the Nile Star Coaches bus, which was heading from Kampala to Gulu, attempted to overtake a Tata lorry at a narrow stretch near Kitaleba. At the same moment, the Planet Company bus from Gulu was also trying to overtake a Toyota Surf from the opposite direction. The two buses collided violently, causing an impact that dragged the other vehicles into the wreckage. Witnesses described hearing a thunderous crash followed by screams as the buses caught fire moments later.

Police rescue teams, aided by residents, worked through the night to retrieve bodies and rush the injured to nearby hospitals. By morning, the twisted wrecks of the buses and the lorry lay scattered across the road as relatives and emergency responders struggled to identify the victims. Authorities said the majority of the deceased were passengers aboard the two buses.

President Yoweri Museveni expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending condolences to the bereaved families and promising immediate support from State House. “I have learnt with sadness about the tragic accident that occurred this morning along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, claiming many lives. I extend my condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a quick recovery. I have directed the State House Comptroller to give Shs 5 million to each bereaved family and Shs 1 million to the injured,” the President said in a statement. He also urged road users to exercise caution to prevent similar tragedies, reminding drivers that “recklessness and haste on the road endanger not only their lives but those of many innocent people.”

As investigations continue, the Uganda Police have appealed to long-distance drivers to strictly adhere to traffic regulations, especially on highways where overtaking mistakes often prove fatal. Police spokespersons said efforts are underway to identify the deceased and reunite bodies with families for burial.

The accident has reignited public concern about road safety in Uganda, particularly on busy routes like the Kampala–Gulu Highway, which has in recent years recorded a growing number of fatal crashes linked to speeding and reckless driving. For now, families across the country mourn loved ones who never reached their destinations, as the nation comes to terms with yet another preventable loss of life.