A horrific bus accident in central Uganda on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 46 individuals, making it one of the deadliest road tragedies the East African nation has seen in decades, according to police reports.
The catastrophic event occurred during the night on the primary highway connecting Uganda’s capital, Kampala, with the northern city of Gulu.
Authorities from Uganda’s police force explained that the collision involved two buses, traveling in opposing directions, both trying to pass other vehicles on the narrow two-lane highway near Kitaleba village. This resulted in a devastating head-on and side impact, triggering a chain reaction that caused several other vehicles to lose control and overturn repeatedly, as detailed in an official police statement.
Beyond the tragic fatalities, numerous other individuals sustained injuries in the incident, the statement confirmed.
Fatal bus accidents are unfortunately a frequent occurrence in Uganda, a situation mirrored in many other African nations. Contributing factors often include substandard road conditions, poorly maintained vehicles, a scarcity of street lighting, and drivers who have not received sufficient training.
Joseph Beyanga, a prominent road safety advocate in Uganda, pointed out that the stretch of highway where this tragedy unfolded is notably more constricted than most of the country’s roads.
He elaborated, emphasizing that “when large trucks attempt to pass one another, there is virtually no room to spare.”
Stark government statistics from Uganda reveal that approximately 12 people lose their lives daily due to traffic accidents across the nation.