BY BICHOLIN K MUSISI

Nakasongola, Uganda | 2025 — At least 17 people were injured in the early hours of Thursday morning when a passenger bus collided with a stationary trailer along the Kampala-Gulu Highway in Nakasongola District.

The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) declared a major incident at around 1:00 AM, citing the severity and number of casualties.

The crash occurred at Kakooge, Kyampisi in Nakasongola, involving a Baby Coach bus that was ferrying 72 passengers from Kampala to Paidha in Zombo District.

The bus reportedly rammed into a parked trailer along the roadside, causing significant impact and injuries.

Emergency response teams, including one Uganda Red Cross ambulance and a police pickup, rushed to the scene and categorized the 17 casualties as follows:
• Red (critical): 3
• Yellow (moderate): 6
• Green (minor): 8
• Black (deceased): 0

The injured sustained a range of trauma, including head injuries (both open and closed), chest trauma, multiple fractures, open wounds, and soft tissue damage. Victims were evacuated to Nakasongola Hospital and Luwero Hospital for treatment.

According to Richard Masembe, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with URCS who was among the first responders, the quick coordination between emergency services helped prevent fatalities.

This incident adds to Uganda’s growing toll of road traffic accidents (RTAs), which remain one of the country’s leading causes of injury and death.

According to the Annual Traffic and Road Safety Report 2024 released by the Uganda Police Force, over 22,000 road crashes were reported last year, resulting in 3,901 deaths and 12,589 serious injuries. Buses and commercial vehicles were involved in a significant number of these incidents, particularly along highways.

Authorities have urged drivers to remain vigilant, especially at night, and avoid parking or stopping on highways without appropriate warning signs.

The Kampala-Gulu Highway, a critical transport corridor connecting central Uganda to the north, continues to experience frequent accidents due to high traffic volumes, poor lighting, and limited enforcement of road safety regulations.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash, and whether the trailer was legally parked with hazard signs as required under traffic regulations.