19 confirmed dead in Kiryandongo bus accident
19 people were by Friday midnight confirmed dead in a bus accident that happened last night at Katurikire in Kiryandongo district.
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The accident happened at about 8:30pm when a Gaaga Bus, registration number UAK 562 L from Lira to Kampala rammed into a tractor registration number UAU 872M before splitting into two.
The two parts of the bus then rolled into a beer truck registration number UAT 088J, mingling most of its occupants in due course.
According to a police statement released Friday night, the accident claimed 19 people in total, 3 of whom were juveniles while the 16 were adults.
“Out of the adults, 4 are female and 12 are male. Evacuation teams are working tirelessly to rescue the injured and Kiryandongo Hospital is handling,” a statement from police read in part.
“Reinforcement is being organised to support the rescue services. Full details will be given as they emerge. We send our heartfelt condolences to the family and wish the injured quick recovery. We thank the public that quickly supported the rescue efforts and we hope that medical teams will work equally hard as they always do to save lives. Further details will be given as they come in,” the statement continues.
According to police, the accident was caused by the bus which was overtaking another vehicle and collided with a tractor that did not have reflector lights hitting it in the middle before catching a beer truck in the scuffle.
However, according to officials from the Uganda Red Cross, more people died in the accident whereas many others who were rushed to hospital were in very critical conditions.
In March this year, a man died on spot when the bus he was driving lost control and overturned at Kibaya Cell (about 1Km from Kisoro town) in Southern division, Kisoro municipality in Kisoro District.
In February, a driver to Kakise bus lost control and run over vendors at Kyagwe road, downtown Kampala, leaving one dead and several injured.
In January, three people were reported dead after a Kasaba Bus overturned at Kageti in Kiruhura district on the Mbarara-Kampala highway.
Last year, five people were confirmed dead following a Bus head-on collision with a Prado car along Kiryandongo- Kampala- Gulu road.
