Police in Uganda say at least 46 people have been killed in a bus crash on a highway linking the country’s capital Kampala to the northern city of Gulu.
The collision involved two long-distance buses and at least two other vehicles, including a truck and a sport utility vehicle.
What do we know about the Uganda bus crash?
According to the Uganda Police Force, the accident occurred when both buses were attempting to overtake other vehicles at the same time and collided head-on.
Officials described a chain reaction that caused multiple vehicles to be overturned. Rescuers took survivors to nearby hospitals, although police did not say how many people were injured or their conditions.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni expressed condolences for the victims while campaigning for the January general elections. “This tragic loss of life is deeply saddening,” he said in a brief statement posted on social media.
Police later clarified that the initial death toll of 63 had been revised to 46, as some passengers initially thought to be dead were found unconscious at the scene.
Road accidents are common in Uganda and much of East Africa, often attributed to reckless driving, poor road conditions and inadequate enforcement of traffic laws. A police report released earlier this year said more than 5,000 people were expected to die in traffic accidents across the country in 2024.
Edited by: Elisabeth Schumacher