Deadly multi-vehicle crash on the Kampala-Gulu highway kills dozens
In the early hours of 22 October 2025, a major road accident occurred on the highway between Kampala (Uganda’s capital) and Gulu in the north, near Kiryandongo district. Two passenger buses travelling in opposite directions attempted overtaking manoeuvres, collided head-on and triggered a chain-reaction crash involving a lorry and another vehicle.
Initial reports listed 63 fatalities, but this was later revised down to 46 deaths, as some unconscious victims were mistakenly counted as deceased.
Authorities say dangerous overtaking, particularly at night, remains one of the biggest causes of road fatalities in Uganda — where road accidents in 2024 claimed 5,144 lives, up from 4,806 in 2023.
Why it matters:
The human tragedy is huge — dozens of lives lost, many injured, families devastated.
It underscores systemic issues: poor road infrastructure, risky driving behaviour, weak enforcement and emergency response, especially at night.
For your readership in Uganda and East Africa, the story resonates with real-world impacts, and could spark discourse on road safety, regulation and transport policy.
