Kampala - At least 20 people died instantly and an unknown number was rushed to hospitals after a bus with failed brakes rammed into a column of 15 commuter vehicles in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, press reports said Thursday.

Brakes in the overcrowded bus entering Kampala from upcountry failed Wednesday night as it was ascending an road escarpment, the Kampala-based Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio station reported.

The bus rolled down the road, sweeping aside 15 commuter taxis and several other vehicles. The number of fatalities is believed to be much higher than 20, CBS said.

The accident came a few days after another deadly motor crash involving three vehicles that left 20 people dead on a highway 45 kilometers east of Kampala.

Accidents that claim scores of lives on the roads of the East African country are blamed on overloading and overcrowding, the poor mechanical condition of vehicles, speeding and corruption on the part of police traffic officers. (dpa)