All passengers aboard a bus traveling along the Amuria-Kotido Road in Amuria district emerged unscathed after the vehicle lost control and tipped over, causing a moment of terror.
The bus, bearing registration number UAL 147Z and operated by Gateway Bus Services, was en route from Kotido to Kampala when the unforeseen incident occurred near Obuku cell in Amuria town council.
According to a statement from the Police, the accident transpired around 2 pm at a bridge under construction, where ongoing road maintenance work had left soil heaped onto a culvert, resulting in the bus veering off the road and overturning.
East Kyoga Police spokesperson Oscar Gregg Ageca revealed that despite the harrowing ordeal, none of the passengers suffered fatal injuries, with 17 individuals sustaining various degrees of harm, promptly receiving medical attention at Amuria General Hospital.
Upon arrival at the scene, reporters observed the evacuation of passengers, preventing an independent verification of the exact number of travelers aboard the bus.
The presence of the bus and a nearby Police pickup indicated the gravity of the incident, with an estimated 60 passengers reportedly on board, all fortunate to escape with minor injuries, according to an anonymous police officer present at the scene.
Eyewitness accounts painted a picture of the events, with one individual, who was on a motorcycle at the time, recounting the bus’s loss of control before toppling over, highlighting concerns about the narrowness of the road section designated for vehicles and pedestrians.
Amuria district chairperson Moses Emabu expressed dismay over the sluggish pace of bridge construction, emphasizing the urgency to expedite work completion to avert further risks to travelers’ lives on the critical route connecting the Karamoja region.
In response to queries, UNRA’s station manager, Eng. Simon Olupot, assured that despite concerns raised regarding the project’s progress, efforts were underway to finalize the work promptly, aiming for completion within the coming week.
Olupot reiterated UNRA’s commitment to ensuring road safety and pledged to expedite the remaining construction tasks, including culvert placement, to restore normalcy to the road section and mitigate future accidents.
