In brief
In a devastating multi-vehicle crash in Uganda, 63 people have lost their lives after two buses collided head-on on the Kampala-Gulu Highway. The incident, which occurred around midnight local time, involved additional vehicles including a lorry and a car. Passengers have been hospitalized, and authorities are emphasizing the dangers of reckless overtaking.
Sixty-three people have died after several vehicles crashed on a highway in Uganda, police said on Wednesday.
Two buses travelling in opposite directions met head on while trying to overtake two other vehicles – a lorry and a car – on the Kampala-Gulu Highway at 00:15 local time (21:15 GMT), according to the Uganda Police Force.
One of the buses swerved in an attempt to avoid a crash, but in the process caused a head on and side collision that led to a chain reaction in which other vehicles lost control and overturned.
As well as the fatalities, passengers of the vehicles involved and several others were injured, police said. An investigation has been launched.
The injured have been taken to hospital in the western town of Kiryandongo.
Following the crash on the road – which connects the capital Kampala in the south to the northern city of Gulu – police urged motorists to avoid dangerous and careless overtaking. It said this remains one of the leading causes of crashes in the country.
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