The nation was in mourning following one of the worst road accidents in recent memory, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, October 22, 2025, on the Kampala-Gulu Highway.
The Incident
It happened in Kitaleba Village, near Asili Farm, in Kiryandongo District, mid-western Uganda—approximately 12:15 a.m. local time.
Four vehicles in total were involved: two passenger buses (one from Nile Star Coaches), a Tata lorry (truck), and a smaller car (identified as a Toyota Surf in one report).
Below were some of the photos of the accident.
Preliminary police investigations suggest the crash was caused by dangerous overtaking. A bus traveling from Kampala to Gulu attempted to overtake the lorry and collided head-on with another bus coming from the opposite direction. This triggered a chain reaction that caused the vehicles to lose control and overturn.
The final confirmed death toll was 46 people. Police initially reported 63 deaths but later revised the figure down, explaining that several unconscious victims at the scene had been mistakenly counted among the dead. Numerous other people were injured.
The Aftermath
- Focus on Road Safety:
The magnitude of the incident immediately renewed national debate and concerns over Uganda’s poor road safety record, with reckless driving and speeding often cited as major causes of fatal crashes.
- Government Response:
- President Yoweri Museveni expressed his condolences via social media, urging motorists to exercise greater caution.
- The President announced a token of financial assistance for the victims: Five million Ugandan shillings (UGX 5,000,000) for each bereaved family and one million Ugandan shillings (UGX 1,000,000) for each injured person.
- The Ministry of Works and Transport dispatched a team to assist police investigations and promised a comprehensive report.
- Emergency Efforts:
The Uganda Red Cross Society deployed additional ambulances to transfer the injured to hospitals for specialized care, with several critical cases referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala.
