Mukono, Uganda – Survivors of the horrific Monday evening bus crash along the Mukono-Katosi road have begun to share their chilling experiences, shedding light on how sheer willpower, luck, and the help of strangers pulled them from the jaws of death.
The accident occurred around 5:00 PM when the driver of a YY Coaches and Courier Services bus (registration UAV 701C) lost control while attempting to avoid a motorcycle carrying firewood.
The bus veered off the road, overturned, and moments later burst into flames, triggering panic among the more than 50 passengers onboard.
Three people died in the blaze; their bodies burned beyond recognition. The remains were taken to Kawolo General Hospital for DNA analysis to confirm their identities.
Narrow Escapes and Acts of Heroism
Agnes Alupo, a maid from Kampala on route to Soroti, described the chaos as passengers screamed, trapped inside the overturned vehicle.
“We were banging on the emergency exit with our shoes. I used my high heels,” she said from her hospital bed. “Eventually, we broke through. I escaped, but my whole-body hurts.”
Eight-months-pregnant Doreen Musiya, also on the ill-fated bus, said she witnessed passengers praying in multiple languages as they scrambled for their lives.
She credits a young woman—still unidentified—for pulling her out through a narrow window. “She saved my life,” Musiya said through tears.
Juliet Wanduka, one of 22 teachers traveling for national examinations in Kololo, said the conductor ignored pleas to stop overloading the bus.
“When the bus crashed, I tried to squeeze through a window but couldn’t fit. My colleagues used their phones to smash two windows so we could get out.”
Emergency Response and Injuries
According to Hellen Butoto, Ssezibwa Region Police Spokesperson, at least 30 passengers were rushed to Kawolo General Hospital, St. Charles Lwanga Hospital, and nearby clinics.
Over 20 have since been discharged, while others remain in critical condition.
Ramula Nakhumisa, the surgical ward in-charge at St. Charles Lwanga Hospital, confirmed that 18 survivors were admitted, 14 of them with serious injuries needed surgery.
“Sadly, one woman arrived with her seven-month-old daughter, who was pronounced dead on arrival,” she added.
The Road Ahead
Police are investigating the cause of the crash, with early reports pointing to speeding and overloading—common and deadly problems on Ugandan highways.
Survivors and authorities alike are calling for stricter enforcement of transport safety regulations.
As families mourn and survivors recover, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved road safety and accountability in public transport.
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