President Yoweri Museveni has directed the payment of Shs5 million to each family that lost a loved one and Shs1 million to each of the injured victims following the tragic road accident along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Museveni expressed deep sorrow over the incident, which claimed dozens of lives.
“I have learnt with sadness about the tragic accident that occurred this morning along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, claiming many lives,” the President said.
“I extend my condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a quick recovery. I have directed the State House Comptroller to provide Shs5 million to each bereaved family and Shs1 million to the injured.”
Museveni also urged all road users to exercise maximum caution and strictly observe traffic regulations to prevent further tragedies on Uganda’s roads.
Earlier in the day, police confirmed that 46 people had died and several others were injured in the fatal crash that occurred at Kitaleba Village, near Asili Farm, along the Kampala–Gulu Highway.
The accident involved four vehicles: an Isuzu bus (Nile Star Coaches) registration number UBF 614X, a Toyota Surf CGO 5132AB 07, a Tata Lorry UBK 647C, and another Isuzu bus (Planet Company) registration number UAM 045V.
According to SP Michael Kananura, the Public Relations Officer for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, preliminary findings show that the driver of the Nile Star Coaches bus attempted to overtake a Tata lorry travelling in the same direction. At the same time, another bus from the opposite direction tried to overtake a Toyota Surf.
The two buses collided head-on during these overtaking manoeuvres, leading to a devastating chain reaction that caused the other vehicles to lose control and overturn multiple times.
Police responded swiftly to the scene, transporting the injured to Kiryandongo Hospital and nearby medical facilities, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to the Kiryandongo Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination and identification.
SP Kananura reiterated the Police’s appeal to motorists to avoid reckless overtaking, which remains one of the leading causes of road crashes across the country.
