Two UN Staff, 8 Tourists Among Bus Dead

BY ALFRED WASIKE, JOHN THAWITE & JOHN NZINJAH TWO officers of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the DRC were among the 70 people who perished in a fireball triggered by a collision between a fuel tanker and an Isuzu bus in Rutoto, Bunyaruguru, Bushenyi on Thursday.Lt. Col. Simhadri-Chitti-Natrasimha with passport 1066448 and Maj. Shamra Sandee with passport 1066447 entered Uganda through Mpondwe border post at around midday, hired a taxi to the Kikorongo junction in Queen Elizabeth National Park, about 30km away where they boarded the ill-fated bus. The two Indians were on leave.The Government has organised a mass burial of the charred remains in the Kasese Catholic Diocesan cemetery in Kasese town after an ecumenical funeral service at 11:00am today. The identities of eight other white passengers believed to have been tourists are still unknown. The Uganda Tourist Board marketing manager, Ignatius Nakishero said, “The UTB and the Uganda Wildlife Authority are investigating the possibility that there were tourists on that bus. We are waiting for a report from our people on the ground.”The blaze broke out when the DR Congo-registered truck KV9346C/HZ 1348C loaded with paraffin rammed into a Kampala-bound Kasese-based SB Company bus at 2:30pm on a steep slope 360km west of Kampala.The MONUC liaison officer in Uganda, Col. Pieter Harmse, yesterday described the inferno as “very sad” and added that the two officers who were based in Kisangani “had just got their leave and were coming to have their holidays in Uganda.” Harmse said MONUC had sent a team of investigators to assist Ugandan security. Police chief Maj. Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala said the Government had flown pathologists, body bags and other logistics to the scene.He said the Police were questioning the turn-boy of the truck. “He somehow survived and hid in a mosque. He is too shaken but he has told us that the truck failed to brake. The truck was loaded with kerosene and not petrol,” he said describing the accident as “terrible.”Kasese Resident District Commissioner Musa Ecweru yesterday said, “The people were burnt beyond recognition. “There are only small bones and ashes. There were 38 Kasese residents, 18 Congolese including a family of eight.” The mood in Kasese continued to be sombre as an FM station, Messiah Radio, made announcements of the people who had died in the incident.“Kasese district should declare a day of mourning because this tragedy is similar to the atrocities committed by the defeated ADF,” several individuals suggested.President Yoweri Museveni yesterday expressed shock at the tragedy, a statement said.Passengers on the bus included a Kasese-based ISO operative from Bushenyi, Joseph Bairwe, Lt. Julius Byamukama Banage from Bwera, Kasese attached to the 3rd Division, Hillary Mukiibi, an LC1 chairman of Kayebe, Nangabo. Proscovia Nuwagaba Kamugisha from Buyanja and her children Ivan Nuwagaba and Yvonne Agaba. Hellen Tibigamba, a student in Kasese Town Council, Eunice Masika, from Muhumuza, Buhuhira parish, Kyabarungira sub-county, Kasese, Valeri Muhindo, from Nyabugando, Karambi subcounty, Kasese, Irenge Masere, from Rwembyo, Kisinga, Kasese, S. Masereka from Kihungu, Kyalumba.Steven Manimba, of Kiharara primary school, Bugoye subcounty, Augustine Isingoma, a headmaster from Kanyatsi in Kyondo sub-county, Paluku Katuma, a businessman from Kirobwa (DRC).Steven Baluku, a student from Mahango subcounty in Kasese, Samuel Tiibara, a student from Mahango in Kasese, Isaya Mbusa, a student from Kyabwenge, Mahango, Kasese, Selevenious Baluku, a student from Kyabwenge, Mahango, Kasese, Joseph Ngamuhabyaki, a registrar from Munkunyu.Elimusi Masereka, a Kilembe businessman, Charles Kayonga, a Masaka businessman, Godia Natunkunda Muramuzi, a housewife from Buyanja, Rukungiri, Loy Nsubuga, a student from Nyakasanga, Kasese, Marynovice Bakebwa, from Bushenyi Ruhinda, a Kasese SSS teacher.Augustine Bakendahi, a Kasese town businessman, Juma Na Abibi, a Kasese town businessman, Steven Bukombi, a student from Kyabwenge, Mahango, Daniel Magezi, a Kashari businessman, Yokonia Bundu, Kasese businessman Joseph Bairwe, Elimasi Mwilili and a Bunyandiko, Kilembe businessman. Ends