At least 63 people have died in a devastating multi-vehicle crash on Uganda’s Kampala-Gulu Highway, police confirmed early Wednesday.

The collision occurred at 12:15 a.m. local time (21:15 GMT) when two long-distance passenger buses, traveling in opposite directions, collided while attempting to overtake a lorry and a car.

According to the Uganda Police Force, one of the buses swerved to avoid impact but instead triggered a head-on and side collision, setting off a chain reaction that caused multiple vehicles to overturn.

Emergency services rushed the injured survivors to hospitals in Kiryandongo, a town in western Uganda. The exact number of injured has not yet been confirmed.

Authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the accident, though dangerous overtaking was cited as a likely factor. Police have urged drivers to avoid reckless maneuvers, warning that such behavior remains one of the leading causes of fatal road crashes in the country.

The Kampala-Gulu Highway is a major transport route connecting Uganda’s capital Kampala to Gulu in the north, and is frequently used by both commercial and passenger vehicles.(Arise News)