Over 30 people die in Sudan bus accident

Sep 30, 2014

Over 30 people are feared dead after a Ugandan bus got involved in an accident on the Juba Nimule Road in South Sudan. However, there were conflicting figures about the death toll, with some reports putting the figure at 52 and others at 32.

By Vision Reporters

Over 30 people are feared dead after a Ugandan bus got involved in an accident on the Juba Nimule Road in South Sudan. However, there were conflicting figures about the death toll, with some reports putting the figure at 52 and others at 32.

The accident, which occurred at 8:30am, involved a Ugandan Bakulu Coach (registration number UAS 073P) and a World Food Programme trailer, five miles after Nisitu on the way to Nimule. The bus was heading to Kampala, while the trailer that was heavily loaded with produce was heading in the opposite direction, the Police and military sources said.

A total of 23 died on the spot, while 17 others with injuries were rushed by the UPDF rescue team to Nisitu Level Hospital. 

“Of the 17, three died on the way to hospital, while another two succumbed to injuries after admission,” the UPDF Fourth Division spokesperson, Capt. Mark Mutono, said yesterday evening. Stephen Odongkara, the Uganda Police deputy commander of the integrated highway patrol coordinating Uganda and South Sudan, said the dead included Haruna Semakula, a co-driver of the bus.

The other bodies were unrecognisable and were taken to the Juba Teaching Hospital. The driver of the bus, identified as James Magezi, sustained injuries. Odongkara, who said the bus had 65 passengers, blamed the accident on the driver of the truck, who he said kept left contrary to traffic regulations in South Sudan.

The chairman of the Uganda community in South Sudan, Tibo Obiga, put the death toll at about 32, adding that most of the casualties were Ugandans. Obiga identified some of the dead as Zurah Miti (Kangulumira); Aisha Ninsiima (Lyantonde); Margaret Nakito (Mubende); Fahim Arinaitwe (Lyantonde); Mzei Ramadhan (Mbale); Abdallah Bassaja and Aisha Basajja, a couple from Luwero; John Tayimba and Mrs. Tayimba, a couple from Pallisa; Michael Seggawa (Makindye) and Joyce Andela (Tororo).

Others are Edward Ekonde, Sakira Mbatudde, Michael Seggawa (Mpigi); Julius Bogere (Bugiri), Godfrey Tumusiime (Mbarara), Abdallah Aziz Mustafa (Yumbe); Jalia Nansubuga (Entebbe), Robinah Namutebi, B Nakundi and another only identified as Abdalla Rahman from Yumbe.

Obiga said many other bodies had not been identified and by press time medical personnel from the UPDF had began treating bodies in Juba Teaching Hospital. Attempts to get a comment from the management of the bus company failed. At Arua Park, the booking clerks declined to comment. Police records show that Bakulu buses have been involved in accidents six times between December 1, 2010 and June 12, 2013, causing the death of 30 people, while 90 people were injured.

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