Nine Rwandans injured in Uganda bus crash

The Ministry of Health last evening dispatched ambulances to rescue Rwandans involved in an accident when travelling back home on a bus belonging to Kampala Coach.

Tuesday, February 03, 2015

The Ministry of Health last evening dispatched ambulances to rescue Rwandans involved in an accident when travelling back home on a bus belonging to Kampala Coach.

Two people died on the spot in the accident, but reports by press time did not indicate a Rwandan as having been killed.

The accident, that occurred along Lyantonde-Mbarara highway, involved Kampala Coach that was coming from Nairobi, and nine Rwandans were among the 18 passengers seriously injured.

All the injured were admitted to Mbarara Hospital, Health minister Agnes Binagwaho told The New Times yesterday, before confirming the dispatch of a medical team and ambulances to the scene.

"It’s tradition as a ministry, to always reach out to citizens involved in accidents or other emergencies anywhere, whenever we can,” Dr Binagwaho said.

When contacted, the Uganda Police spokesman, Fred Enanga, attributed the accident to speeding and fatigue by the driver, a Tanzanian national, who is among the two victims of the crash.

The other victim is a Ugandan female passenger.

"We suspect the driver was speeding and he failed to negotiate a corner,” Enanga said, adding that the driver could have been tired from driving the long distance.

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