Gaagaa buses recalled for inspection

Jan 12, 2012

The transport licensing board has recalled all buses belonging to Gaagaa Coach Bus Services Ltd for inspection in Kampala.

By Taddeo Bwambale

The transport licensing board has recalled all buses belonging to Gaagaa Coach Bus Services Ltd for inspection in Kampala.

This follows a bus accident involving a Gaagaa bus on Monday morning in which eight people were killed along the Gulu-Kampala highway. 
 
By press time on Wednesday, six buses had already been turned in at the Police Training School, Kibuli for testing. Regional buses operating in the East African cities will also be delivered for inspection.
 
Gaagaa is one of the biggest bus transport operators in the country, with a fleet of about 60 buses. Most of them ply the West Nile region while others operate in several cities in the East African region.
 
Operations of Gaagaa buses were suspended on Monday by the licensing body, pending a police report on the fatal accident. Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident could have resulted from reckless driving, according to the commissioner for traffic and road safety, Dr Steven Kasiima.
 
Consequently, the proprietors of the bus company were directed to present all the buses for inspection by a joint team from the works ministry and the police, to ascertain their road worthiness. 
 
The company is also required to present all its drivers for testing as well as their driving permits and passport photographs for verification.
 
Based on the findings, the licensing board will determine whether to revoke the company’s license or allow it to operate again.
Meanwhile, some bus operators at Arua Park in the city centre have denied hiking fares to the West Nile districts following the suspension of Gaagaa buses.
 
Ahmed Hussein, the director of Nile coach denied that his bus company had increased fares saying such decisions are agreed upon by all operators before being implemented. 
 
“We have not increased the fares and we cannot take advantage of an unfortunate incident. Our fares to Arua have remained sh28,000 since the end of the festive season,” he said. 
 

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