(MENAFN) At least 46 individuals lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries following a devastating traffic accident on the Kampala-Gulu Highway in Uganda during the early hours of Wednesday, according to police reports.

The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 a.m. in Kitaleba Village, near Asili Farm, involving a total of four vehicles — two Isuzu buses, a Tata lorry, and a Toyota Surf.

According to authorities, preliminary inquiries indicate that the collision happened when one of the buses tried to overtake the lorry.

Simultaneously, another bus coming from the opposite direction was also in the process of overtaking a different vehicle.

This dangerous maneuver led to a direct crash between the two buses. One of the drivers reportedly made a sharp turn in an attempt to prevent a collision, which instead triggered a sequence of events that resulted in several vehicles flipping over.

“We confirm that the total number of fatalities resulting from the tragic fatal crash along the Kampala-Gulu Highway at Kitaleeba Village stands at 46, according to the latest update from the hospital,” stated the police.

Initially, law enforcement had announced a death toll of 63, but the numbers were later revised following updated information from medical facilities.

Emergency response units rushed the wounded to Kiryandongo hospital as well as other nearby healthcare centers.

The remains of the deceased were also moved to Kiryandongo hospital for post-mortem evaluations and for the process of identification.

Officials have appealed to drivers to remain vigilant and to refrain from dangerous overtaking practices, emphasizing that such actions continue to be a significant contributor to traffic-related deaths across Uganda.

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