Makome bus as seen along Mbiko Jinja highway near trench - Photo File
Jinja - Pader District Speaker Ottober Wellborn Odiya narrowly escaped a serious accident involving a Makome Bus early this morning, October 26, 2024, along the eastern route in Mbiko town, Jinja City.
Around 4 a.m., the bus, registration number UBF 135M, swerved sharply to avoid two pedestrians and an oncoming vehicle, causing the driver to lose control. The bus plunged into a roadside trench, resulting in multiple injuries among the nearly 70 passengers, but no fatalities.
Rev. Stephen Enenu Olika, principal of Alarm Technical Institute and a passenger on board, described the scene as chaotic.
“The bus was full, mostly with people heading north. The crash threw everyone into panic,” Olika recalled, adding that he was relieved to learn Speaker Odiya had survived.
Those with injuries were taken to Jinja Hospital, but due to reported shortages of essential medicines, some sought immediate care at private clinics.
Makome Bus Company’s Pader stage manager, Mr. Labalpiny Patrick Mukili, confirmed the incident and noted that a replacement bus had been dispatched to assist passengers.
Uganda Police Force’s 2023 crime report highlights similar incidents, with 23,608 people involved in road accidents last year, resulting in 6,942 minor injuries, 12,487 severe injuries, and 4,179 fatalities.
“Though we’re grateful no lives were lost, the incident underscores our urgent need for safer roads,” Mukili stated.
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