Another Gateway Bus accident leaves 18 injured in Kisoro

At least 18 people were injured on Tuesday morning when a Gateway Bus overturned along the Kabale-Kisoro road in Kanaba sub-county, Kisoro district.

The accident occurred at around 10:50 am at Chanakye Red Corner, a known black spot in the hilly terrain of Kanaba. Police say the driver, Julius Owoyesigyire, 40, a resident of Nyabihoko in Ntungamo district, failed to negotiate a sharp corner, causing the Scania bus (registration UBK 804Y) to overturn.

The bus was en route from Kampala to Kisoro with about 60 passengers on board. Among the injured were Francis Byarugaba, 46, Ketra Muhawenimana, 19, Samuel Nteziyaremye, 40, Martin Ntezimana, 42, Janet Mujawimana, 25, and Ivan Twisenge, 24, all residents of Kisoro.

Others included Suzan Bonabana, 39, and Prossy Nakimuri, 38, both from Mubende district; Florence Nakawesa, 27, from Entebbe; Gladith Tushemerirwe, 48, from Kanungu; Charles Higa, 45, and Joseph Kwesiga, 25, from Kampala; Bibian Athieno, 29, from Tororo; Faith Kwagara, 9, and an unidentified eight-month-old infant.

Kigezi Region police spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed the incident and said three victims sustained serious injuries. All the injured were taken to various health facilities in Kisoro town for treatment.

The wreckage of the bus was later towed to Kisoro central police station for further inspection. According to preliminary findings, the driver is suspected to have delayed braking while navigating the corner, leading to the crash.

Tuesday’s crash is the second involving a Gateway Bus within a week. On Sunday, May 25, at around 6:10 am, another bus (registration UBM 707X) heading to Kabale from Kampala overturned in Rwabahazi village, Muhanga town council in Rukiga district.

In that earlier incident, the bus failed to negotiate a corner, knocked down a female pedestrian, Dafuroza Rwakinda, before veering off the road and into a trench. Eleven passengers were injured in that crash. Police have cautioned bus operators to exercise greater care, especially along the winding and mountainous roads in southwestern Uganda.

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