BUGWERI — The driver of a bus carrying students from St Paul Comprehensive School in Katakwi died on the spot after the vehicle rammed into a stationary truck in Bugweri District early Monday, leaving 23 students seriously injured.
The accident occurred at about 4:20am at Nawangisa Village along the Mbale–Iganga highway as the students were travelling to Jinja for a study tour at Kasenyi.
According to local authorities, the bus, registration number UA 551ED, was carrying 72 students when it collided with a stationary Mercedes-Benz Actros box-body truck, registration number UBB 269Y.
An eyewitness, Derrick Kirunda, a boda boda rider operating at Nawangisa Stage, said the bus driver swerved in an attempt to avoid hitting a motorcycle that was travelling in the same direction.
"He had come so close that there was no way to save his life apart from entering the truck," Kirunda said.
Katakwi District LC5 Chairperson Geoffrey Omolo said 23 students sustained serious injuries, including broken limbs and deep cuts, and were rushed to Iganga General Hospital for treatment.
He added that 12 of the injured, whose conditions were critical, were later referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for specialised care.
Residents said the accident occurred at a known black spot.
Karim Ngobi, the secretary for defence of Nawangisa Village, said at least five people had previously lost their lives at the same location due to speeding.
Kirunda also blamed the crash on excessive speed.
"I know accidents are normal, but in this case I believe it could have been avoided if the driver had been moving at a reasonable speed," he said.
Following the crash, schools from Katakwi District that were also travelling for the same study tour reportedly cancelled their journeys.
Residents have appealed to the Ministry of Works and Transport and other relevant authorities to install speed humps at Nawangisa to reduce accidents along the Tirinyi–Mbale–Kampala highway.
The wreckage of both the bus and the truck was towed to Iganga Central Police Station as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson Michael Kasadha urged motorists to observe speed limits and obey traffic regulations to prevent similar accidents.
