In the early hours of 22 October 2025, a tragic road accident occurred on the Kampala–Gulu Highway in Uganda near Kitaleba Village, Kiryandongo District. The crash involved four vehicles: two Isuzu buses (one belonging to Nile Star Coaches and another to Planet Company), a Tata lorry, and a Toyota Surf. Both buses were reportedly overtaking at the same time in opposite directions, resulting in a head-on collision that triggered a chain reaction. The vehicles overturned several times, causing a massive loss of life. Initial police reports indicated 63 deaths, later revised to 46 confirmed dead, with many others injured.
The Kampala–Gulu Highway is one of Uganda’s busiest and most accident-prone roads. Built decades ago, parts of it are narrow, poorly lit, and lack adequate shoulders, making overtaking highly dangerous. Uganda’s broader road safety situation compounds the problem, with over 5,000 people dying in road crashes in 2024. Reckless overtaking, driver fatigue, speeding, and poor enforcement of traffic regulations are recurring causes of such accidents. The combination of inadequate infrastructure, poor driving habits, and weak regulation contributed heavily to the scale of the 2025 disaster.
Following the crash, emergency responders and police worked through the night to rescue survivors and transport bodies to Kiryandongo Hospital. President Yoweri Museveni expressed condolences, ordering compensation for victims’ families and the injured. The incident sparked national mourning and widespread anger over persistent failures in road safety enforcement and infrastructure maintenance. Media coverage highlighted that this was one of the deadliest crashes in Uganda’s recent history and reflected on the recurring dangers of night-time travel, when driver fatigue and low visibility increase risk.
The tragedy underscored deep-seated issues within Uganda’s transport system. The infrastructure remains outdated for the level of traffic it handles, with minimal investment in widening lanes, creating overtaking sections, or improving lighting and signage. Enforcement of traffic laws, particularly concerning reckless overtaking and speed limits, is inconsistent. Night-time bus operations continue with little regulation of driver rest periods or vehicle conditions. These systemic weaknesses make major accidents almost inevitable on busy routes like Kampala–Gulu.
Preventing similar tragedies will require a multifaceted response. Uganda must invest in widening and improving major highways, enforce strict penalties for reckless overtaking, and ensure that long-distance bus drivers are properly trained, rested, and monitored. Introducing better lighting, signage, and overtaking lanes could drastically reduce risk. Emergency response capacity should also be strengthened, with hospitals along major roads equipped for mass-casualty incidents. Public education on road safety and continuous monitoring of black spots can further reduce fatalities.
The Kampala–Gulu accident was not only a national tragedy but also a call to action. It revealed how one moment of driver misjudgment, amplified by weak infrastructure and enforcement, can devastate dozens of families. The government’s response and compensation offer sympathy, but long-term safety requires structural change. Without sustained investment in roads, regulation, and education, Uganda’s highways will continue to claim lives. The 2025 crash should therefore serve as a turning point — a reminder that road safety is not merely a traffic issue but a matter of national survival and public responsibility.
