At least 63 dead in a traffic accident in Uganda caused by the head-on collision of two buses

A collision between two buses on one of the busiest roads in Uganda caused the death of at least 63 people and left several more injured, as reported by the African country’s Police on Wednesday.

The accident occurred shortly after midnight on the highway between the capital Kampala and the northern city of Gulu.

Initial investigations suggest that the crash occurred due to the fact that the two buses coming from opposite directions were trying to overtake other vehicles: a truck and an SUV.

“During overtaking maneuvers, both buses collided head-on,” the Uganda Police stated in a statement on X. “Sixty-three people lost their lives, all of them occupants of the vehicles involved.”

Fatal traffic accidents are common in Uganda, where roads are often narrow. The Police usually attribute these accidents to drivers exceeding the speed limit.

“While investigations continue, we strongly urge all drivers to exercise caution on the roads, especially by avoiding dangerous and reckless overtaking, which remains one of the leading causes of accidents in the country,” police stated.