The government of Rwanda has swiftly moved to ensure the care and well-being of its citizens who survived a tragic bus accident on the Masaka-Kampala highway.
The incident occurred yesterday at Kabaale Bugonzi, involving a Jaguar Isuzu bus, registration number UBP 964T, traveling from Kampala to Rwanda.
The bus collided with a tipper truck, registration number UAV 988N, while navigating a sharp corner, resulting in multiple casualties, including eight fatalities.
Masaka Regional Emergency Coordinator, Hajji Dr. Muhammad Nsubuga, confirmed that 24 survivors were taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital following the accident.
The victims sustained serious injuries requiring immediate medical attention. Despite the severity of the crash, Dr. Nsubuga noted the hospital staff's swift response to stabilize the injured.
“We managed to evacuate those in critical condition; there were 14 in total. Unfortunately, we found eight victims already deceased at the scene. The 14 survivors were transferred to the hospital, where we resuscitated them as best as we could. Those with minor injuries were treated and discharged, while the critically injured were admitted for further care,” Dr. Nsubuga stated.
The Rwandan government, in coordination with its embassy in Uganda, has arranged for the repatriation of its citizens for further treatment in Kigali.
“We received a request from the Rwandan embassy to transfer these patients to Kigali for further treatment closer to home. Despite the challenges, we managed all the cases effectively. Of the 24 patients, those with minor injuries were handled and discharged, while the critically injured have been taken to Kigali for continued treatment,” Dr. Nsubuga added.