43 people killed in a crash of buses and other vehicles in Uganda

Ugandan police on Wednesday revised down the death toll from a major bus crash on one of the country's busiest highways, saying it had killed 46 people whereas before they had given a toll of 63. The crash happened just after midnight on the highway between the capital Kampala and the northern city of Gulu.The Uganda Police Force said in a statement that they had mistakenly given a higher death toll earlier in the day because some victims had been found unconscious at the scene, meaning they were erroneously included in the initial toll.

63 confirmed dead. Several others rushed to Kiryadongo Hospital. What an accident involving Nile Star Bus, Platinum Bus and two other vehicles. pic.twitter.com/mZOkOEz7pA

— Ayikobua Noel (@noelayikobua222) October 22, 2025

The crash then caused a "chain reaction" as other cars came past and overturned as they attempted to avoid the smash. Dozens of others were found injured by the roadside when emergency services arrived at the scene in Kitaleba village. Initial investigations suggest it was caused by two buses coming from opposite directions trying to overtake other vehicles, a lorry and a sport utility vehicle (SUV). “In the process both buses met head-on during the overtaking manoeuvres,” the Uganda Police Force said in a statement on X.