Transport along the vital Gulu–Nimule Highway was paralysed for several hours on Saturday after two cargo trailers collided head-on and burst into flames at Awer Trading Centre in Lamogi Sub-county, Amuru District.
The 10 a.m. crash involved a trailer heading to Juba, South Sudan, and another travelling in the opposite direction from the South Sudan border towards Gulu.
Eyewitnesses said one of the trucks is believed to have veered off its lane before colliding directly with the oncoming vehicle. One of the trailers was reportedly carrying a heavy load of steel.
The impact sparked a massive fire that quickly engulfed both vehicles, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and drawing panic among motorists and residents.
Firefighters from the Police Fire Brigade later managed to contain the blaze, but both trucks were completely destroyed.
The wreckage remained strewn across the highway for hours, causing a major traffic gridlock on the busy trade route that connects Uganda to South Sudan and other regional markets.
A police officer at the scene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said no fatalities had been officially confirmed by press time. However, uncertainty remained over the fate of the drivers and any possible occupants.
“We are still waiting for a comprehensive report from the traffic officers deployed at the scene,” said David Ongom, the Aswa West Regional Police Spokesperson, when contacted for comment.
The Gulu–Nimule Highway is a key economic corridor linking Uganda to South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Tanzania. Despite its strategic importance, it has remained a hotspot for fatal crashes, often attributed to reckless driving, speeding, and fatigue among long-distance truck drivers.
The incident comes amid ongoing concerns about road safety, even as official statistics show a decline in traffic-related cases. According to the 2025 Police Annual Crime Report, Uganda recorded 322,441 traffic-related incidents last year, down from 426,432 cases in 2024.
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