Police in East Kyoga are hunting for the driver of the ill-fated Busitema University bus that was involved in a fatal crash in the wee hours of Thursday.

The crash which left two students dead and 24 students hospitalised, happened at Awoja on the Soroti-Mbale highway.

This incident happened at 3.00am at Awoja Primary School after the bus REG. NO UG-1951E operating the school shuttle rammed into a stationery trailer Truck REG NO. UAQ-718, which was parked along Soroti Mbale highway. However, the number of students who were aboard the bus is unknown.

Acting Police region spokesperson John Robert Tukei identified the deceased as Alwedo Suzan from Ochero sub-county and Eringu Peter from Kaberamaido sub-county in Kaberamaido district. Both were Senior Four students at Midland High School in Kaberamaido district.

Papa Won Ateker talking to one of the injured teachers (Photo by Adam Gule)

According to Tukei, police are currently hunting for the driver of the bus who is believed to be on the run.

The bus set off from Midland High School and was heading to Jinja City, where the students had a scheduled study tour of Masese.

24 students hospitalized

The in-charge of the emergency Unit at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, Dr. Athanasius Ariengu, revealed that 24 students who were admitted to the facility at 10:00am in the morning, were critically injured. Two out of those critically injured are still receiving oxygen therapy. 

"Two others are still in coma," Ariengu said on Thursday.

School director Nathan Egaru also sustained serious injuries and is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Director Midland High School Nathan Egaru among the injured/Photo by Adam Gule

Kumam leader visits crash victims

Kumam cultural heritage leader Papa Won Ateker Raphael Otaya also visited the survivors at the hospital where he met with the parents and condoled with them upon their loss.

Otaya, while speaking to the survivors at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, warned all schools against transporting students at night especially while going for study tours.