Nsamba Richard, a driver plying the Mukono-Katosi route, said this is the second train accident in the area in a span of one year, noting that in the first one, three boda boda passengers including the cyclist, a woman and her child, perished.
A Kigali bound YUTON bus belonging to Trinity Express which was travelling from Nairobi was involved in an early morning accident at Namumira in Mukono Municipality, when it rammed into a passenger train after the bus driver allegedly miscalculated and thought he would manoeuvre the railway line in time to avoid the mishap.
The driver identified as Bulya Erat driving a bus registration number RAH 629B is suspected to have been driving under the influence of drug intoxication as leaves of mirrah (mayirungi) were found scattered around the pedal area of the bus, and some leaves in a polythene bag (kaveera)hanging by his door window.
The driver is said to have ignored the hooting by the train operator and before he could go over the railway line, the train arrived and after the accident, the bus was hit at the tail end and got damaged, while the locomotive and one coach got derailed.
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The Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) Managing Director, Benon Kajura who arrived at the scene minutes later, said he was negotiating with the corporation’s mechanical department to restore the locomotive and the coach back on the line.
Kajura expressed apologies to the early morning commuters who travel to work places aboard the coach, adding however that they are working round the clock to ensure that the services are restored by midday.
He emphasized the importance of drivers to respect the trains’ right of way and stop accordingly to wait for the train to cross and then proceed.
A Kigali bound survivor who identified himself only as Geoffrey, said the bus company was making arrangements to find an alternative coach to transport the Kigali bound travelers, while Kampala passengers had been evacuated on local vehicles including bodabodas.
Eye witnesses told our reporter that they were just getting ready to embark on their daily chores when they heard an unusual hooting by the train, and woke up on hearing a loud bang. They said it was by God’s blessing that passengers were not seriously injured.
They variously suggested that a cross bar fitted with a reflector be installed to be lowered when the train is approaching, to block vehicles and give the train its right of way.
They expressed disgust at drivers especially cross border buses which they said overspeed and tend to neglect road signs. Nsamba Richard, a driver plying the Mukono-Katosi route, said this is the second train accident in the area in a span of one year, noting that in the first one, three boda boda passengers including the cyclist, a woman and her child, perished.