Gateway bus driver killed in fatal crash on Katosi Road

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Traffic police in Njeru district on Monday, July 21, 2025, confirmed a fatal single-vehicle crash involving a Scania bus, registration number UA 354AN, belonging to Gateway Bus Services.

According to Hellen Butoto, the Sezibwa Region Police public relations officer, the crash occurred at approximately 1:30 am at Katovu village in Ngogwe subcounty, Buikwe district, on the Katosi–Nyenga Road.

“It’s alleged that the motor vehicle reg number UA 354AN Scania bus belonging to Gateway Bus Services was coming from Kampala heading to Soroti and passed via Katosi Road and on reaching Katovu Village in Buikwe District along Katosi Nyenga Road, the vehicle got a tyre burst on the front driver side and the driver lost control due to speed and overturned on the right side off the road killing one person on spot,” she said.

Butoto identified the deceased as Innocent Bizimana, also known as Mafene, who was the driver of the ill-fated bus.

She added that several passengers sustained injuries. These included Assistant Superintendent of Police Mary Amukede, Enock Arering, Sergeant Akello Angella, and an unidentified male victim, all of whom were admitted to Nkokonjeru Health Centre.

Butoto noted that the injured were rushed to both Nkokonjeru Health Centre and Kawolo Hospital, while the body of the deceased was taken to Kawolo Hospital for postmortem.

“The motor vehicle has been towed and taken to Ngogwe Police Station. Speeding and a suspected burst tyre were the cause of the accident,” she stated, adding that investigations are ongoing.

This marks the second fatal bus accident on the same road in less than two months.

On May 6, 2025, a YY Bus overturned, crashed and caught fire on the Mukono–Katosi–Jinja Road, killing three people. The vehicle involved was a Scania, registration number UAV 701C, belonging to YY Coaches. It was travelling from Katosi to Jinja when the driver lost control at Makindu village.

According to police, the bus overturned and caught fire, resulting in the loss of lives. Emergency services responded promptly, extinguished the blaze, and recovered the bodies of the victims.

Another YY bus was later involved in a separate accident at Ayako village near Karuma, prompting the Ministry of Works and Transport to suspend the company’s operating licence.

State Minister for Works and Transport, Fred Byamukama, announced a 15-day suspension of all YY Coaches operations across Uganda, citing repeated accidents caused by reckless driving and safety breaches.

“We are suspending the operations of YY buses in Uganda for a period of 15 days starting today at 7 pm,” Minister Byamukama told journalists at a press briefing on May 13, 2025.

He added, “This decision follows two reported accidents, including a fatal one on Katosi Road, where four people lost their lives. The driver is currently on the run,” he stated.

“In the Katosi crash, the driver lost control while at high speed, swerved onto a road shoulder, overturned, and the bus caught fire. Lives were lost and property worth millions destroyed,” Byamukama said.

The Ministry also revealed that the bus was suspected to have been carrying flammable liquids, possibly waragi, which may have contributed to the fire.

During the 15-day suspension, YY Coaches was instructed to present all its drivers for testing and verification, submit all buses for mechanical inspection, provide driver appointment letters for validation, and furnish proof of pressure training programmes for drivers.

“We expect them to bring all their drivers’ passes for inspection, appointment letters, and schedules,” the Minister said, adding that “These are mandatory requirements that must be met before we consider lifting the suspension.”

He also criticised bus owners for their apparent disregard for public safety.

“The owners of these bus companies don’t seem to mind when their drivers cause accidents. They simply replace them with new drivers without taking responsibility for the accidents. This is unacceptable, and we must take action to prevent such incidents in the future.”