President Yoweri Museveni has expressed profound sorrow over the tragic Kampala–Gulu road crash that occurred early Wednesday morning, claiming the lives of more than 40 people and leaving many others injured.
In a tweet on his official account, he extended his condolences to the families of the victims and announced that the State House Comptroller will give sh5m to each bereaved family and sh1m to each injured person.
“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 5m to each bereaved family and Shs 1m to the injured. I urge all road users to exercise utmost caution to prevent such tragedies. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace,” Museveni wrote.
According to police reports, the crash happened around 12:15 a.m. at Kitaleba Village and involved four vehicles: a Nile Star Coaches bus (UBF 614X), a Planet Company bus (UAM 045V), a Tata lorry (UBK 647C), and a Toyota Surf (CGO 5132AB 07).
Police said the Nile Star bus, traveling from Kampala to Gulu, tried to overtake a lorry, while the Planet Company bus, coming from the opposite direction, was also overtaking a smaller car. The two buses collided head-on, causing a massive crash that overturned the vehicles and left them badly damaged.
Authorities confirmed that 46 people died on the spot, while several others were seriously injured. The injured were rushed to Kiryandongo Hospital and nearby clinics, and the bodies of the deceased were taken to the Kiryandongo Hospital mortuary for identification and post-mortem.
Traffic Police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura blamed the Kampala-Gulu crash on dangerous overtaking, a leading cause of road accidents in Uganda. He urged all drivers to be careful and follow traffic rules.
“We strongly urge all motorists to be careful on the road and avoid reckless overtaking. It’s one of the leading causes of deadly accidents in the country,” Kananura said. “We extend our condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a quick recovery.”
The accident has reignited concerns over road safety and driver discipline on Uganda’s highways, particularly on the Kampala–Gulu highway, which has seen several deadly accidents in the past.
