Another Global bus accident claims five lives, leaves several others hospitalised

Another accident involving a Global bus has claimed the lives of five people at Kabuye-Kyabadaaza, along Masaka highway in Mpigi District.

Six people were also rushed to Nkozi Hospital in a critical condition.

Witnesses say the bus, registration number UAZ 581U which was headed to Mbarara collided head-on with a taxi number UBA 969W from Masaka. The bus was overtaking a truck on a climbing lane before, it rammed into the taxi.

This is just one of the series of accidents involving the bus which normally plies the Kampala-Mbarara route.

In June, two people died and a dozen others sustained injuries after bus number UBB195M collided with a truck Reg. No. UAY 069W near River Katonga.

In July, two people died in a fatal accident in Biharwe along the Mbarara –Masaka road after another Global coaches bus UBE 970Q collided with a Premio, killing two of its occupants Melon Akankunda and Jonan Masereka.

Mid this year, junior Works and Transport minister Henry Bagiire directed the Transport Licensing Board (TLB) to, ‘withdraw with immediate effect the single route chart for Global Bus Company.’ He had also directed TLB to immediately inspect Global fleet and individually license buses that fulfill the roadworthiness requirement.

Then, he was reacting to a head-on collision between a bus belonging to the company and a tipper truck at Kayabwe. The accident was attributed to the recklessness of the bus driver.

“On several occasions, I have also received complaints from the public regarding the operations of Global Buses on the Kampala-Mbarara route. I have been reliably informed that the buses are reckless on the road and continue to violate the conditions of the single route chat issued to them,” the Minister said then.

The latest accident is set to reopen the debate of road safety involving public transport and especially ill-fated service providers such as YY and Global buses.