Fourteen people were killed and 28 others injured on Tuesday night after an Opit Travellers bus collided head-on with a trailer along the Kampala-Gulu highway in Omoro district.
The crash happened at about 9:30 p.m. at Kulu Otit village in Bobi sub-county. Police said the bus was travelling towards Gulu when it collided with a trailer heading to Kampala.
Police Confirm Deaths and Injuries
Aswa West regional police spokesperson David Ongom Mudong said the victims sustained different injuries and were taken to health facilities in Gulu city.
The injured are receiving treatment at Lacor Hospital, Gulu Independent Hospital, Gulu Regional Referral Hospital and other medical centres.
Mudong said police were still identifying the dead and notifying their relatives. He also confirmed that both drivers were among those who died at the scene.
“At least 14 people are confirmed dead according to the accident scene report, while 28 were injured. However, we are still trying to establish their identities, and we shall give the details in due course,” Mudong said.
He said the victims had been taken to various hospitals in Gulu city for treatment and postmortem examinations.
Police Point to Speeding
Preliminary police investigations blamed the crash on excessive speeding by the bus driver.
“The cause of the accident is due to overspeeding by the bus driver. I am also informed that both the driver of the bus and the trailer are among the fatalities. However, we shall verify and share that information shortly,” Mudong said.
He said many crashes on major highways continue to result from human error. He urged drivers to observe road safety rules and avoid reckless behaviour.
Mudong added that traffic police conduct regular enforcement and sensitisation campaigns. However, he said some motorists return to dangerous driving after passing police checkpoints.
He also urged passengers to speak up when they notice unsafe driving.
Eyewitnesses Give Different Account
Eyewitnesses, however, gave a different version of events.
They claimed the bus driver lost control while trying to avoid a pedestrian who was allegedly intoxicated. According to their account, the bus then swerved into the path of the oncoming trailer.
Police had not confirmed that account by the time the preliminary details were released.
Renewed Concern Over Highway Crashes
The fatal collision adds to growing concern over road crashes on the Kampala-Gulu highway.
Authorities have repeatedly cited speeding, dangerous overtaking and reckless driving as major causes of accidents on the route.