At least 63 people have been confirmed dead following a horrific multi-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after midnight on the Kampala–Gulu highway in western Uganda, police said Wednesday.
In a statement released on social media, the Uganda Police Force said the accident involved four vehicles, including two passenger buses traveling in opposite directions, which collided head-on after both drivers attempted to overtake other vehicles on the narrow highway.
“One of the bus drivers swerved in an attempt to avoid collision, but this resulted in a head-on and side collision, causing a chain reaction that led to other vehicles losing control and overturning several times,” police said in the statement.
Several other passengers sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, authorities confirmed.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident but said dangerous overtaking and speeding were likely major contributing factors.
“As investigations continue, we strongly urge all 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,” the police statement added.
Fatal road accidents are common in Uganda, where many highways are narrow, poorly lit, and prone to heavy traffic.
Authorities have repeatedly appealed to drivers to adhere to traffic rules to reduce the rising number of road fatalities.
