Arua Bus Set on Fire for Knocking Local Dead

A bus belonging to KK Coaches has been set on fire along Arua – Nebbi highway for reportedly knocking dead the LC 1 vice chairperson of Yivu village in Arua district.

The incident occurred on Thursday night in Arivu Sub-County near Enzeva close to river Alaa, according to the West Nile Region Police spokesperson, Josephine Angucia.

“The bus was headed to Kampala from Koboko about 10 pm on Thursday. It knocked someone dead and the driver and turn man tried to run away. Angry locals turned to the conductor and beat him up before setting the bus on fire,” Josephine said.

She said police are making detailed inquiries into the matter although no arrest has been made over the incident.

Uganda continues to grapple with incidents of traffic related accidents most of which Police has often tied to recklessness in driving and overspeeding. Just two days ago, two people died on the spot after a truck collided head-on with two motorcycles along the Kabale – Katuna road.

The most recent serious fatal accident was the one that occurred in Kiryandongo district in May of this year, in which 23 people died and others injured, after a Gaaga bus rammed into a tractor.

More than 3,000 people were killed in 13,244 road accidents in 2017 according to the latest annual Traffic and Road Safety report. Almost half of those killed in road carnage were pedestrians and 918 were motorcyclists.

The report stated that 72% of the motor accidents were caused by reckless and careless driving. Other causes include; careless pedestrians, speeding, dangerous loading and or overloading, vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions, drunk drivers, passengers falling off vehicles and obstacles on the road.

Police jointly with UNRA and the Ministry of Works have in recent years rolled out the Fika Salama campaign to enforce road safety guidelines on major highways across the country.