Buikwe bus crash: over 60 people treated for injuries

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Over 60 people are nursing serious injuries following a fatal crash involving a YY bus that burst into flames on the Mukono–Katosi–Nyenga–Njeru Road on Monday, May 5, 2025.

According to health authorities, several hospitals in Buikwe district received casualties from the crash. Kawolo Hospital reported receiving 18 casualties, while St. Francis Hospital Nyenga attended to 11 victims. St. Charles Lwanga Buikwe Hospital received 15 casualties, with seven of them still admitted.

The bus, registration number UAV 701C, was travelling from Kampala to Jinja when it crashed, burst into flames and was reduced to ashes. (Photo by Emmanuel Balukusa)

Makindu Health Centre II handled 20 patients, though none were admitted.

“We did not admit any patient,” said Namukisa Ritah, the in-charge of Makindu Health Centre II.

According to Helen Butoto, the Ssezibwa regional police spokesperson, the crash involved a single vehicle and occurred around 5:00pm in Makindu village, Najja sub-county, Buikwe district.

Speaking at the scene on Monday, Butoto said the driver lost control, causing the bus to overturn before it caught fire, trapping many passengers inside.

The bus, registration number UAV 701C, was travelling from Kampala to Jinja when it crashed, burst into flames and was reduced to ashes. By press time, three bodies had been retrieved from the wreckage, but were burned beyond recognition.

Fire Fighters putting out the fire that gutted the YY bus in Buikwe. (Photo by Emmanuel Balukusa)

Police were still working to determine the exact number of passengers who were on board and are continuing to search the bus’ charred remains for more bodies.

Eyewitness Bosco William Lubega said the crash happened when the driver tried to avoid hitting a young boy on a motorcycle loaded with firewood, who was crossing the road from Makindu centre to Busiri. In the process, the driver lost control of the speeding bus, which then overturned.

Lubega added that the road where the crash occurred is narrow and riddled with potholes, making navigation difficult, especially at high speeds.

Another eyewitness, Isaac Lugudde, said he managed to save only eleven passengers from the inferno.

A fire Fighter putting out the fire that gutted the YY bus in Buikwe. (Photo by Emmanuel Balukusa)

"The fire started small but quickly intensified. Within minutes, the flames were too strong, and we could not continue with the rescue. What disappointed us was the police response because they arrived with guns but no ambulances,” he said.

“Most of the survivors were transported to the hospital using boda bodas. The fire brigade arrived too late and by then, many passengers had already been burned beyond recognition," Lugudde added.

Firefighters from Lugazi and Jinja eventually arrived and extinguished the blaze, allowing police and local residents to begin cutting through the bus’ metallic remains to retrieve victims.

Police investigations are ongoing.