In the early hours of Thursday morning, a tragic incident occurred near Katovu township on the Masaka-Mbarara highway. A bus, identified as belonging to Perfect Coaches with registration number UBF 025G, was involved in a devastating accident.
At approximately 2:30 am, the bus, en route from Kampala to Mbarara, overturned after the driver swerved to avoid a collision with an oncoming truck.
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This unfortunate event resulted in the loss of two lives, namely Shimon Musinguzi, a 28-year-old resident of Rukungiri District, and a one-year and eight-month-old baby boy named Erist John Witington.
Additionally, 17 passengers sustained injuries, and a total of 69 individuals were believed to have been on board.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus was traveling at high speed when it skidded off the highway and rolled over several times.
Some of the injured passengers were promptly transported to Lyantonde Hospital and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for medical care.
The cause of this tragic accident was attributed to the sudden maneuver by the bus driver to avoid a head-on collision with a truck.
As the truck from Mbarara side loaded with matooke crossed into another lane with its full lights on, the bus driver lost control, veering off the road and overturning in a valley.
It is worth noting that this is the second accident involving a bus on the same highway within a span of just four days.
On Monday, another bus from Global Bus Company with registration number UBB 985M skidded off the highway around 11 am, resulting in the loss of two lives and injuring over 20 others.
Here is a list of the survivors from this tragic incident:
1. Ediga Begumisa, 32, a resident of Ntungamu District
2. Moreen Nisiima, 28, a resident of Rukungiri District
3. Dan Turyamureba Dan, 36, a resident of Kibale District
4. Mary Pale, 27 (mother to the deceased juvenile)
5. Nabukenya Olivia, 31
6. Frank Luyimbazi, 32
7. Emmanuel Usingye Emmanuel, 37, from Kanungu District
8. Godfrey Muhereza, 43, from Rwampara District
9. Shafik Zubair, 28, a resident of Kanungu District
10. Isaac Ntasobya, 30, a resident of Kanungu District
11. Nowel Mugabi, 52, a resident of Rukungiri District
12. Moses Rutara, 66, a resident of Kanungu District
13. Jackline Kyogabirwe, 38, a resident of Kanungu District
14. Madius Ligaruraho, 49, a resident of Kanungu District
15. Edison Igumba, 35, a resident of Kanungu District
16. Charity Kakuru, 30, a resident of Kanungu District
17. Lillian Namakiika, 25, a resident of Wakiso District
Also Read: TRAGEDY! Four family members die in terrible Masaka-Mbarara accident