News

Several Feared Dead as YY Bus Bursts Into Flames

Published

1 month ago

May 5, 2025

Admin

A tragic accident involving a YY Coaches bus has claimed several lives after the vehicle overturned and caught fire along the Nyenga-Kisoga stretch of the Kampala–Jinja Highway in Buikwe District.

The bus with registration number UAV 701C, which was heading to Soroti from Kampala, reportedly crashed at around 5:00 PM on Monday, bursting into flames moments later and burning almost entirely to ashes.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing scene, with many passengers feared to have been trapped inside the burning wreckage.

“We saw the bus lose control and flip before flames engulfed it. It was terrifying,” said one witness, who was traveling on a nearby vehicle.

By press time, authorities had not yet issued an official statement on the cause of the crash. Still, police and emergency services were on the ground conducting rescue and recovery operations.

It remains unclear how many people were on board and how many survived.

Some survivors, severely injured, were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Kawolo Hospital and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

YY Coaches, one of Uganda’s most popular long-distance passenger bus companies, has had a troubled safety history despite operating one of the most widespread intercity transport fleets.

The company has previously faced criticism over road safety concerns.

In February 2020, a YY bus heading to Mbale was involved in a head-on collision in the Mabira Forest area, leaving at least six people dead and over 20 injured.

In July 2016, another YY bus overturned in Iganga District, killing five people on the spot.

One of the most devastating YY Coaches incidents occurred in October 2013, when a bus collided with a sugarcane truck along the Tirinyi–Mbale road, resulting in 11 fatalities.

Investigations at the time blamed reckless driving and failure to observe traffic regulations.

Despite several public outcries and directives by the Ministry of Works and Transport to improve safety standards, YY Coaches has continued to operate with limited regulatory consequences.

While police had yet to comment formally, traffic officers at the scene told reporters that investigations were underway to determine whether speeding, mechanical failure, or driver error had been involved.

Family members of passengers on board have begun gathering at police posts and hospitals in search of their loved ones.

More details will be provided as investigations progress and authorities release official figures.

News

JAGO: Elect Leaders Who Will Support Vision & Culture of Jopadhola

Published

7 hours ago

June 7, 2025

Nkwanga Xavia

Tororo, Uganda | The Prime Minister (Jago) of the Padhola Cultural Institution (TACI) has hailed President Yoweri Museveni for the elevation of Tororo Municipality to city status and the creation of more districts but warned that the success of these plans depends on electing leaders who “are progressive and supportive of our cultural values.”

“This is an election season; let’s elect leaders who are supportive of the cultural institution pillars of unity, peace, and development,” said Jago Richard Josel Obbo in a press release.

Obbo warned that those undermining the TACI and the Jopadhola people’s ideals should be avoided and shunned altogether.

“Let’s equally avoid the tendency of violence as we campaign for our respective candidates,” he cautioned.

Congratulations, Tororo!

Jago Obbo also clarified that the new third district for Tororo, which is yet to be named, will be in Kisoko despite confusion over the matter recently.

“I congratulate the people of Tororo, Bukedi, and Ugandans in general upon the recent achievements we have registered, that is, the elevation of Tororo Municipality to city status and the creation of more districts of Mukuju and Mulanda,” he said.

Jago Obbo said Kisoko has always been the county headquarters of the greater Budama, West Budama, and now the West Budama North and Northeast Counties.

“Kisoko is endowed with vast land that can hold a district headquarters in addition to expanding other developmental activities, as the government may prioritize from time to time. I urge the people of Padhola to be united on this matter and shun those trying to confuse.”

He said that all the consultative meetings with different stakeholders in Tororo, who included the Kwar Adhola, Padhola Elders, Chairpersons LC 3, district leaders, councilors, and members of parliament, agreed and signed a joint memorandum that Kisoko would be the district headquarters.

“The confusion and last-minute change in mind came when one of the leaders who had always been invited for these meetings and never attended rose from the State House and proposed that the district headquarters would be agreed upon later. As leaders, we should avoid serving parochial interests; we cannot be seen to be double-minded and serving selfish interests against the larger masses,” Jago warned.

Schools and Rain

Jago Obbo called on parents in Padhola to endeavor to take all school-going children back to school without exception.

“In case a parent or guardian has financial or requirement challenges, please visit the schools and negotiate with the administration such that the children do not miss out on the academic activities,” he said.

On livelihoods, Obbo said the rains have remained consistent this season. “Let’s continue taking advantage of the rains and plant fast-maturing crops to support our families both at subsistence and commercial levels.”

He revealed that TACI is currently mobilizing all residents of Tororo to embrace government programs, especially immunization of children against malaria.

“I urge all people to send their children right from birth to two years of age for immunization, such that they remain healthy while growing,”.