Ugandan police have revised the death toll from a devastating multi-vehicle crash on a major highway to 46 people, down from an initial report of 63 fatalities.
The accident occurred just after midnight on Tuesday on the Kampala-Gulu Highway, one of the country's busiest routes connecting the capital to the northern city of Gulu.
Initial investigations indicate that two buses traveling in opposite directions collided head-on while attempting to overtake a lorry and a sport utility vehicle.
The collision triggered a chain reaction, causing other vehicles to lose control and overturn.
Police attributed the initial overestimate to the chaotic scene, where several victims were found unconscious and mistakenly counted among the dead during early rescue efforts.
In a statement on X, the Uganda Police Force explained that as investigations continue, they are collaborating with health and emergency services to verify accurate numbers.
The injured passengers have been transported to hospitals in the western town of Kiryandongo, located about 263 kilometers from Kampala.
Irene Nakasiita, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, described the scene as gruesome, with victims suffering severe injuries including broken limbs and heavy bleeding, noting that the magnitude of the incident was exceptionally large.
President Yoweri Museveni expressed sadness over the tragedy and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
While campaigning nearby for January's general election, he directed that each affected family receive five million Ugandan shillings, equivalent to about $1,430, with an additional one million shillings allocated to the injured.
Police have urged all motorists to exercise maximum caution, particularly avoiding dangerous overtaking maneuvers, which they identified as one of the leading causes of road crashes in Uganda.
In 2024, police figures recorded 5,144 road fatalities nationwide, an increase from 4,806 the previous year and 4,534 in 2022, highlighting persistent safety challenges on the nation's highways.