14 Killed as Kenyan Trailer Collides With Passenger Bus on Uganda's Kampala–Gulu Highway

Fourteen people were killed and at least 28 others were injured after a passenger bus collided head-on with a Kenyan-registered trailer on the Kampala–Gulu Highway at Bobi Trading Centre, about 20 kilometres from Gulu City, on Tuesday night.

Ugandan police said the crash involved a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer driven by a Kenyan national and an Isuzu passenger bus travelling from Kampala to Gulu. The trailer driver was among those killed. Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said preliminary investigations indicate that the bus driver attempted to avoid a pedestrian crossing the road, lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the path of the oncoming trailer.

Emergency responders worked through the night to rescue survivors and remove the wreckage from the highway. Police confirmed that 28 people were injured, although people at the scene estimated that at least 40 passengers sustained injuries. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Photographs from the scene showed the extent of the damage. The bus had a shattered windscreen, broken windows and severely crushed seats. The trailer, which was reportedly transporting cargo from South Sudan, was also badly damaged. 

The collision happened at about 9.30 pm, when reduced visibility and continued pedestrian activity in the trading centre may have increased the risk on the road.

Police have opened a full investigation into the crash, with excessive speed forming a key part of their enquiries. 

Kananura urged motorists to observe speed limits, particularly at night when visibility is reduced and pedestrians are more difficult to see. The crash has renewed focus on road safety along Uganda's major highways. 

Trading centres located beside busy roads often experience significant pedestrian traffic, increasing the risk of collisions with fast-moving vehicles. The Kampala–Gulu Highway is an important transport route linking the capital with northern Uganda and South Sudan and has recorded several serious accidents in recent years, many linked to speeding and dangerous driving.

The latest crash has renewed calls for stronger road safety measures, including safer pedestrian crossings, improved driver training and stricter enforcement of speed limits. Families of the victims are now mourning those who lost their lives in the collision.