Breaking News: Multiple Injured As YY Bus Collides With Trailer In Saala, Kibuku District

Kibuku, Uganda – January 17, 2024

Several passengers narrowly escaped tragedy on Tuesday when a YY Coaches and Courier Services bus collided with a Nile Breweries trailer along the Mbale-Tirinyi Road, at a notorious accident black spot known as Saala in Kibuku District.

The incident, which took place around 6:30 pm, involved an Isuzu bus with the registration UAX 842T from YY Coaches and Courier Services, driven by Mususwa Ibrahim, 47 years old, and a Nissan Diesel Trailer with the registration UAM 966V/UAD 120L owned by Nile Breweries Company and driven by Budigo Ismail, 42 years old.

According to local traffic police, both vehicles were moving in the same direction from Mbale to Iganga when the YY Bus, traveling at high speed, collided with the trailer from behind, resulting in injuries to multiple passengers.

Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the YY bus driver attempted to overtake the Nile Breweries trailer without realizing another vehicle was approaching from the front. In an effort to return to his lane and avoid a collision, the bus driver found himself too close to the trailer, leading to the impactful crash.

While no fatalities were reported on the spot, numerous occupants of the YY bus sustained injuries and were promptly transported to Kibuku Health Center IV. Subsequently, some of the seriously injured victims, including Bsikwa Sarah (40 years) and Asha Ismail Bukenya (30 years), were later transferred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for further medical attention.

Bukedi North Regional Police spokesperson, SP Semewo Samuel, confirmed the incident, stating, “The victims who were seriously injured, among others, were Bsikwa Sarah, Asha Ismail Bukenya, and Singh Janesaparatp. Two of them (Sarah and Asha) were referred to Mbale Referral Hospital for further attention.”

Survivors with minor injuries were assisted and continued their journey to Kampala in another YY Coaches bus, bearing the registration UAX 880T.

This incident raises concerns about the safety of the Saala area, which has been identified as an accident black spot. In May 2023, a similar accident involving a YY coach bus left some people dead, and in December 2023, another collision occurred at Saala, resulting in a fatality when a YY coach bus rammed into a motorcycle.

Bukedi North Regional Police assured the public that investigations into the Saala accident were underway. The scene was visited and documented by IP Angella Max, the DTO Kibuku, and her team, as authorities work towards establishing the circumstances leading to the collision.