Uganda’s highways have once again claimed innocent lives. On Sunday night, a tragic collision along the busy Kampala–Gulu Highway left five people dead and six others critically injured, adding to the growing concern about road safety on Uganda’s major transport routes.
The accident occurred around 8:30 pm at Kyalweza Village, Nakasongola District, when a Toyota Hiace taxi (Reg No. UA 415AV), reportedly speeding toward Gulu, lost control and crashed head-on into a Nissan milk truck (Reg No. UBL 615T) travelling in the opposite direction.
Sam Twineamazima, Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that the injured survivors were rushed to Nakasongola Health Centre IV and Kiryandongo Hospital for urgent medical care. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Nakasongola Health Centre IV for postmortem.
Uganda’s highways continue to witness alarming numbers of fatal crashes. According to the Annual Police Crime and Traffic Report, 4,806 people lost their lives in road accidents in 2023, many of them on high-speed highways like Kampala–Gulu, Masaka, and Kampala–Jinja roads. Speeding, reckless overtaking, and poor road discipline remain leading causes.
Last month alone, a similar accident along the Masaka Road claimed six lives in a minibus-truck collision.
Authorities continue to urge drivers to adhere to speed limits and maintain caution, especially during night travel when visibility is poor.
As Uganda pushes for improved road safety awareness, the Kampala–Gulu highway tragedy is yet another painful reminder that the battle against highway carnage is far from over.
