By Peter Luzinda
Omoro, Uganda – Wednesday, July 8, 2026 —
At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and more than 40 others injured following a devastating head-on collision between an Opit Travellers bus and a Kenyan-registered lorry at Kulo-Otit in Bobi Sub-county, Omoro District, about 20 kilometres from Gulu City.
The crash occurred at around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday along the busy Kampala–Gulu Highway. The bus, registration number UBE 110H, was travelling from Kampala to Gulu when it collided with a Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer travelling in the opposite direction from South Sudan towards Kampala.
According to the Aswa West Regional Police spokesperson, David Ongom Mudong, preliminary investigations indicate that both vehicles may have been speeding at the time of the collision. Police said the impact killed both drivers instantly, while several passengers also died at the scene.
The bus driver was identified as Abdu Ismail, while the identity of the lorry driver had not been established by press time. Authorities said the bodies of the deceased were transferred to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for identification and postmortem examinations, as relatives began arriving to claim their loved ones.
More than 40 survivors sustained injuries of varying severity and were rushed to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, Gulu Independent Hospital and other nearby health facilities. Hospital sources said several victims remained in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could increase.
Police said investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing. However, eyewitnesses told investigators that the bus driver may have swerved in an attempt to avoid a pedestrian who had suddenly crossed the road, causing the vehicle to lose control before crashing into the oncoming lorry. The account is being examined alongside police findings pointing to excessive speed as a contributing factor.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of fatal crashes recorded on the Kampala–Gulu Highway, where police have repeatedly attributed deadly accidents to speeding, dangerous overtaking and reckless driving. Road safety authorities have renewed calls on motorists to observe speed limits, particularly during night travel and while passing through trading centres where pedestrian movement is common.
