In brief
An accident involving multiple vehicles on Uganda's busiest highway resulted in 46 fatalities, as police reported a significant revision in the initial death toll. The incident involved two buses and led to a chain reaction of crashes. Authorities are now emphasizing road safety and the risks of overtaking. President Museveni expressed condolences and pledged financial support for the victims' families.
Forty-six people have been killed after several vehicles crashed on a major highway in Uganda, according to police reports.
The death toll was revised down from an earlier figure of 63, as authorities clarified that some victims were unconscious and receiving treatment rather than deceased.
The crash occurred shortly after midnight local time on the Kampala-Gulu Highway, when two buses traveling in opposite directions collided head-on while overtaking a lorry and a car.
In a desperate attempt to avoid the collision, one bus swerved, leading to a series of accidents and the overturning of several other vehicles.
Police confirmed that numerous passengers from the affected vehicles sustained injuries, prompting an investigation into the incident.
The injured were transported to hospitals in Kiryandongo, a town in western Uganda.
President Yoweri Museveni expressed his sorrow over the tragic accident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He has also announced that each bereaved family will receive five million shillings (approximately $1,430; £1,070) and one million shillings for those injured.
The Kampala-Gulu Highway is known to be one of the busiest roads in Uganda, and following this accident, police are calling on motorists to exercise caution and avoid reckless overtaking, a common cause of accidents in the region.
