Europe Asia News

Police revised the previous death toll of 63, stating that unconscious and hospitalized injured individuals had mistakenly been included.

The Uganda Police Force said the accident occurred on the Kampala–Gulu Highway at around 12:15 a.m. local time when two buses traveling in opposite directions attempted to overtake and collided “head-on.”

One of the buses tried to swerve to avoid the crash but ended up in a “head-on and side collision,” triggering a “chain reaction” that caused other vehicles to lose control and overturn.

Police said that in addition to the fatalities, several passengers in the vehicles involved were injured. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

The injured were taken to various hospitals in the western town of Kiryandongo.

Police said in a statement that they were working with health and emergency services to verify numbers and provide accurate information while investigating the cause of the crash.

Regional Police Spokesperson Julius Hakiiza said the accident was caused by a bus that was “attempting to overtake.”

The highway connecting the southern capital Kampala and the northern city of Gulu is one of the busiest in the country.

Following the accident, police warned drivers to avoid “dangerous and reckless overtaking.”

Police added that this “continues to be one of the leading causes of accidents in the country.”