14 Killed In Bus Ambush
May 28, 2003
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels commanded by their chief-of-staff, Yardin Tolbert Nyeko, yesterday morning killed 14 people in an ambush on three vehicles on Karuma-Pakwach road, the army said yesterday.
By Emmy Allio,
Martin Kaahwa
and Steven Candia
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels commanded by their chief-of-staff, Yardin Tolbert Nyeko, yesterday morning killed 14 people in an ambush on three vehicles on Karuma-Pakwach road, the army said yesterday.
The ambush at Pajok II and Anyago, midway along the route that snakes through thickets and forests, left over 60 people unaccounted for.
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza said the army rescued 50 passengers and that 12 others were taken to Pakwach Health Centre.
He said by last evening, the fuel tanker, the first to be hit, was still burning.
The tanker, UAA 943, belonged to a Chinese company constructing the Pakwach-Nebbi road.
The driver, Abdalla Zubede, and Moses Othieno, the turnboy, were seriously injured.
Nebbi district Police commander, Samson Onyai, said the driver of the bus, UAD 925U, belonging to Gateway Bus Company, was among the dead. The fully loaded bus left Kampala for Arua shortly after 5:30am.
Three other buses, two belonging Nile Coach and one to ANKK, which were in front, reached Arua safely. They reportedly never knew about the attack.
At the Gateway head offices in Kampala, worried people poured in to inquire about their relatives. The staff said they had just heard about the incident and could not give details.
An employee said a team of company officials had been dispatched to the scene.
At the entrance to the offices, a woman in slippers, purple suit and a kitenge headscarf stood with tears welling in her eyes. She prayed aloud that her only son had survived the attack.
“I wonder what could have happened to my son. I only pray that he is alive. The other day, a Nile Coach bus overturned, killing many. This time, a bus in which my son was travelling is hit. I don’t know what is becoming of us,†she said.
All Kampala-bound buses from Arua, Nebbi and Paidha had not arrived in the city by 5:00pm yesterday amid reports that they had been held up in the park as the army combed the area for the rebels and survivors. The buses normally arrive in the city at about 2:30pm.
Ends
Martin Kaahwa
and Steven Candia
THE Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels commanded by their chief-of-staff, Yardin Tolbert Nyeko, yesterday morning killed 14 people in an ambush on three vehicles on Karuma-Pakwach road, the army said yesterday.
The ambush at Pajok II and Anyago, midway along the route that snakes through thickets and forests, left over 60 people unaccounted for.
Army spokesman Major Shaban Bantariza said the army rescued 50 passengers and that 12 others were taken to Pakwach Health Centre.
He said by last evening, the fuel tanker, the first to be hit, was still burning.
The tanker, UAA 943, belonged to a Chinese company constructing the Pakwach-Nebbi road.
The driver, Abdalla Zubede, and Moses Othieno, the turnboy, were seriously injured.
Nebbi district Police commander, Samson Onyai, said the driver of the bus, UAD 925U, belonging to Gateway Bus Company, was among the dead. The fully loaded bus left Kampala for Arua shortly after 5:30am.
Three other buses, two belonging Nile Coach and one to ANKK, which were in front, reached Arua safely. They reportedly never knew about the attack.
At the Gateway head offices in Kampala, worried people poured in to inquire about their relatives. The staff said they had just heard about the incident and could not give details.
An employee said a team of company officials had been dispatched to the scene.
At the entrance to the offices, a woman in slippers, purple suit and a kitenge headscarf stood with tears welling in her eyes. She prayed aloud that her only son had survived the attack.
“I wonder what could have happened to my son. I only pray that he is alive. The other day, a Nile Coach bus overturned, killing many. This time, a bus in which my son was travelling is hit. I don’t know what is becoming of us,†she said.
All Kampala-bound buses from Arua, Nebbi and Paidha had not arrived in the city by 5:00pm yesterday amid reports that they had been held up in the park as the army combed the area for the rebels and survivors. The buses normally arrive in the city at about 2:30pm.
Ends