14 Killed, 28 Injured in Deadly Kampala-Gulu Highway Bus Crash, Police Confirm
OMORO, UGANDA — Police have confirmed that 14 people were killed and 28 others injured following a devastating head-on collision between an Opit Travellers bus and a trailer along the Kampala-Gulu Highway in Omoro District on Tuesday night.
The fatal accident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. at Kulu Otit Village in Bobi Sub-county, when the Gulu-bound passenger bus collided with a trailer that was travelling towards Kampala.
The crash is among the deadliest road accidents recorded on the busy Kampala-Gulu Highway this year.
Victims Rushed to Hospitals
According to police, the 28 survivors sustained injuries of varying severity and were rushed to several health facilities in Gulu City for emergency treatment.
The injured are receiving medical care at St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu Independent Hospital, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, and other nearby medical centres.
Meanwhile, the bodies of those who died were taken for postmortem examinations as authorities continue the process of identifying the victims and informing their families.
Bus Driver and Trailer Driver Among the Dead
Aswa West Regional Police spokesperson David Ongom Mudong confirmed that both the bus driver and the trailer driver are believed to be among those killed in the collision.
“At least 14 people are confirmed dead according to the accident scene report, while 28 others sustained injuries. We are still working to establish the identities of all the deceased before releasing their details,” Mudong said.
Police said identification of the victims is ongoing before official notification of next of kin.
Police Blame Overspeeding
Preliminary investigations by traffic police indicate that overspeeding by the bus driver was the likely cause of the crash.
Mudong said investigators believe the bus was travelling at excessive speed before colliding with the oncoming trailer.
He noted that police will continue gathering evidence to establish the full circumstances surrounding the accident.
Eyewitnesses Give Different Account
However, eyewitnesses at the scene disputed the preliminary police findings.
According to witnesses, the bus driver allegedly attempted to avoid hitting a pedestrian who was reportedly intoxicated and had wandered onto the highway.
They claimed the sudden manoeuvre caused the bus to veer into the opposite lane, where it collided head-on with the approaching trailer.
Police have not confirmed the eyewitness account and investigations remain ongoing.
Police Renew Road Safety Appeal
Following the tragedy, police urged motorists to observe traffic regulations, particularly on major highways where speeding continues to claim lives.
Mudong attributed many of Uganda’s road crashes to human error, including speeding, reckless overtaking, and dangerous driving habits.
He said traffic police continue to conduct road safety enforcement operations and public awareness campaigns but noted that some motorists resume reckless driving shortly after passing police checkpoints.
Police also appealed to passengers to take an active role in promoting road safety by speaking up whenever they notice dangerous driving behaviour.
Kampala-Gulu Highway Remains a High-Risk Route
The latest accident adds to a growing number of fatal crashes recorded along the Kampala-Gulu Highway, one of Uganda’s busiest transport corridors.
Authorities have repeatedly identified overspeeding, reckless overtaking, driver fatigue, and failure to observe traffic regulations as leading causes of serious road accidents on the highway.
Investigations into Tuesday night’s crash are continuing as police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision and identify all the victims.
