Five people have died and at least 15 others were critically injured following a multiple-vehicle crash at Siriba Village in Bweyale Town Council, Kiryandongo District, along the busy Kampala–Gulu Highway.
The accident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
According to Stephen Ojok, the Savannah Regional Police spokesperson, the crash involved three vehicles, including a stationary truck and two passenger buses.
Preliminary police reports indicate that a red Sinotruck, registration number UBF 576B, had developed a mechanical problem and was parked on the road. A Mega Express bus, registration number UBF 350T, travelling from Gulu towards Kampala, approached the scene but its driver reportedly mistook the stationary truck for a moving vehicle and failed to slow down.
The bus rammed into the Sinotruck from behind with great force, pushing it off the road and into a nearby ditch.
As the collision unfolded, a Nile Coach bus, registration number UA 657CM, travelling from Kampala, attempted to avoid a head-on crash with the Mega Express bus. The driver narrowly avoided a direct collision, but the vehicle brushed against the Mega Express coach before veering off the road and overturning.
“The Nile coach was not as severely impacted as the Mega Express bus, which rammed into the Sinotruck and instantly claimed five lives,” Ojok said.
Among the deceased is a three-month-old baby. The injured passengers were rushed to Kiryandongo General Hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.
Police say investigations into the exact cause of the accident are ongoing, although authorities suspect overspeeding and poor visibility due to nighttime driving may have contributed to the crash.
Ojok warned motorists against dangerous driving practices, particularly at night.
“Few accidents are caused by vehicle conditions. Most are due to overspeeding, reckless driving and driving while fatigued,” he said.
The latest crash adds to a growing list of deadly accidents along the Kampala–Gulu highway. In October last year, a major accident in Kataleba Village in Kiryandongo Sub-county involving multiple vehicles left 46 people dead and 64 others injured.
According to Michael Kananura, spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, that incident was triggered by a head-on collision between two buses attempting to overtake simultaneously, which led to a chain reaction involving several vehicles.