A heartbreaking road accident along the Kampala–Gulu Highway has left at least 46 people dead and dozens of others nursing serious injuries after a horrifying collision involving four vehicles — a Nile Star bus, a Planet Bus, a lorry, and a small car.
The deadly crash occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, shocking residents and travelers who use the busy route.
According to eyewitnesses, the tragedy happened when the Nile Star bus tried to overtake a lorry at a sharp section of the road, just as a Planet Bus from the opposite direction was also attempting to overtake a smaller car.
Both buses were filled with passengers, and the miscalculated moves led to a head-on collision that instantly claimed many lives.
Survivors described the terrifying moment as filled with screams, chaos, and the deafening sound of metal crashing and tearing apart.
The fatal accident occurred around 12:15 a.m. at Kitaleba Village near Asili Farm, a known blackspot along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.
The impact was so severe that rescuers and first responders struggled to pull survivors from the mangled wreckage.
Bodies were scattered across the road, while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
One of the lucky survivors, Sebeet Kawawa, shared his painful experience with the Daily Monitor. Kawawa, who was seated on the Nile Star bus, said that everyone who sat beside him lost their lives.
“I still cannot believe I made it out alive. I thought I was dreaming when I woke up under the wreckage. The people I was sitting with all died instantly.
I could hear others crying for help,” he said emotionally. He believes the crash was caused by reckless driving and wishes that drivers would be more cautious on highways to prevent such tragedies.
Another survivor, Omia Zubeir, who is an aspiring Member of Parliament in the upcoming Ugandan elections, also narrowly escaped death. Zubeir said the Nile Star bus picked him up from his home as he was on his way to submit his nomination papers.
He described his survival as a miracle, revealing that two of his colleagues who were travelling with him died in the accident. “It’s truly a miracle that I survived. The people I was with did not make it.
There was nothing I could do to help them,” he said. Despite suffering injuries to his leg and head, Zubeir insisted on submitting his nomination papers before returning to the hospital for further treatment.
Police reports indicate that reckless overtaking and speeding were the major causes of the crash. Authorities have once again called on drivers to be extra careful, especially when driving at night, as visibility is often poor on highways.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, another fatal accident occurred along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway on Saturday morning, October 25. Six men lost their lives after a vehicle they were travelling in crashed at the Soysambu area in Mbaruk.
The group was reportedly returning from a burial ceremony in Kisumu when the tragedy struck. The Nairobi–Nakuru route, one of Kenya’s busiest highways, has recorded numerous fatal crashes in recent months.
Witnesses at the Soysambu crash site said the accident happened during the early morning hours when visibility was poor due to heavy fog.
The section of the highway where the crash occurred is known for high-speed overtaking and frequent accidents.
Road safety officers have since urged motorists to slow down and observe traffic rules to prevent further loss of lives.
These back-to-back tragedies in Uganda and Kenya have once again raised concerns over road safety in East Africa, with many calling for stricter traffic enforcement, better road designs, and increased driver awareness to save lives.
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