One feared dead as Teso coach crashes into stream

By Godfrey Ojore and Moses Nampala

Ten people got seriously injured Thursday morning when a Teso coach bus plunged into Lwele stream, in Nakaloke town council in Mbale.

A 5-month old baby girl suspected to be dead, is feared to be trapped under the wreckage of the bus.

The ill-fated bus reg. UAN 218A destined for Soroti was coming from Kampala when its driver lost control, veered off the road and plunged into the stream.

Elgon Region Police spokesperson Diana Nandawula on Thursday confirmed a female passenger in the ill-fated bus also mother of the missing baby had reported the matter to them.

“It's true we have received a complaint from one of the female survivors of the crash about a missing child,” said Nandawula.

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The coach plunged into the stream after the driver lost control

Esther Achan, who survived the accident with minor injuries, also the troubled mother, told the New Vision that she lost grip of the baby in the ensuing confusion.

“The baby slipped out of my grip,” a distraught mother  said.

A distraught Achan says she was destined for Soroti from Kampala to check on her husband.

“It's possible that one of the passenger may have out of sympathy fled with the child, or it could also be true that the baby could be trapped under the wreckage,” said Nandawula.


Police could not give a clear account of what caused the accident as the driver and turn boy of the bus reportedly escaped shortly after the crash.

Those admitted at Mbale referral hospital include Patricia Adile (14), (Phiona Sitenda (27), Miria Nasinga (25) Isaac Mwesigwa (40).

Others are grace Egato (66), Ruth otai (48) John Odege (77), Loyce Alero (40), Waduya Magaret.

Police could not establish the identity of the tenth victim who is still in coma.

“No identification documents was found on the victim when he was searched,” Said Nandawula. But she was quick to stress that he is a middle aged male adult.

The hospital Suprentendent, Dr Benon Wanume, could not be reached for an official comment, however medical workers at the hospital who spoke to the New Vision condition of anonymity said the victims  sustained invariable bodily injuries ranging from fractures, deep cuts and dislocations.

Phiona Sitenda, a victim said moments before the accident occurred the driver was cruising very fast when suddenly they saw the bus rolling.

However Isaac Mwesigwa, another victim suspects the driver to have lost control after its left tyres skidded off the murrum surface of the road section that is under rehabilitation by Dott services .

“It was raining heavily, and the murrum road surface was wet,” explained Mwesigwa.

Mayeki Kutosi, whose home is just a few metres way from the scene of the crime, said a loud bang awakened him at around 3:00am in the morning.

 “I woke up from bed when I overheard people screaming for help,” explains Kutosi.

Residents reportedly converged at the scene and started to make arrangements of evacuating the Injured victims to the hospital.

By press time the wreckage of the bus was still laying across the stream. “We are trying to source for private crane service from a firm in Jinja,” said Nandawula.