19-yr-old steals bus with passengers on board

Police on Friday arrested a 19-year-old boy for stealing a brand new bus that was being filled with passengers.

The suspect identified as Juma Andama, a resident of Adalafu Parish, Pajulu sub-county in Arua district, allegedly stole the bus registration number UBF 618T belonging to Nile Star bus company.

The bus plying the Arua-Kampala route was parked at the company's offices on Adumi Road opposite Pacific Hotel on Friday at about 9:30 am at the bus terminal when Andama entered the bus, sat in the driver's seat and drove off.

The driver of the bus had turned the engine on and left it running while the bus filled up with passengers.

Andama, who is not affiliated with the bus company drove away with 16 passengers on board for about 5 kilometres on Kampala Road, up to Odianyadri Trading Centre in Vurra sub-county where he was intercepted.

The bus' conductor who hurriedly boarded the bus thinking it was about to leave him behind is the one who informed management, leading to the interception.

Josephine Angucia, the Police spokesperson West Nile region said the Police was alerted and they promptly arrested the suspect shortly after a mob descended on him.

"The motive of this act is not known but the suspect was taken for medical examination to ascertain his mental status and inquiries are going on into his past criminal records," Angucia said.

Abdul Hakim Ejoga, the manager of Nile Star, told New Vision on Sunday that a preliminary Police report indicates that the suspect is battling mental illness.