Several passengers were injured after a Kakise Bus travelling from Soroti City to Kampala overturned late on the night of July 18, 2026, in yet another road accident that has raised fresh concerns about road safety across Uganda.
The accident occurred near the Television Centre in Soroti City shortly after the bus had begun its journey to Kampala, leaving passengers and eyewitnesses in shock as emergency responders rushed to the scene.
According to preliminary reports, the bus, registration number UAS 159P, overturned after the driver reportedly swerved in an attempt to avoid knocking down a pedestrian who was crossing the road.
Witnesses at the scene said the driver lost control of the vehicle during the sudden maneuver before the bus struck a roadside light pole and rolled over, causing extensive damage to the vehicle.
Although the crash was severe, no deaths had been confirmed by the time of publication, providing a small measure of relief amid the growing number of recent road accidents involving buses in different parts of the country.
Several passengers, however, sustained injuries of varying severity and were quickly rushed to nearby health facilities where they began receiving emergency medical treatment.
The bus conductor, Emmanuel Ayaga, explained that the journey had only just started when the tragic incident occurred near the Television Centre at approximately 11:30 p.m.
“We started the journey from Soroti City to Kampala. We reached a place called Television Center at around 11:30 p.m. and there was a person trying to cross the road. The driver, in trying to save that person, lost control and rolled after hitting a light pole,” Ayaga said.
Ayaga further revealed that the bus driver, identified as Alfred Mandevu, suffered some of the most serious injuries during the accident.
According to the conductor, the driver’s leg was severely injured during the crash, forcing rescuers to struggle for several minutes before successfully removing him from the badly damaged wreckage.
Ayaga also confirmed that he sustained a minor hand injury but expressed gratitude that no passenger had been reported dead despite the seriousness of the accident.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as passengers screamed for help while local residents and emergency responders worked together to rescue those trapped inside the overturned bus.
Medical personnel responded quickly by transporting the injured victims to nearby health centres and hospitals where doctors continued assessing their conditions and providing the necessary treatment.
The latest accident comes at a time when Uganda is already mourning several deadly crashes involving passenger buses and school buses that have claimed dozens of lives over the past few days.
The recent series of accidents has prompted government agencies and traffic police to intensify road safety enforcement measures aimed at reducing crashes and improving compliance with transport regulations.
Authorities have continued urging drivers to exercise maximum caution, especially when travelling at night or in situations requiring sudden evasive action to avoid collisions.
By the time of publication, Uganda Police had not yet released an official statement confirming the exact cause of the accident or the final number of passengers who sustained injuries.
Investigations are expected to establish all the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the condition of the vehicle, the actions taken by the driver and other possible contributing factors.
Road safety experts continue to encourage motorists to maintain safe speeds, remain alert at all times and observe defensive driving practices in order to minimize the risk of serious accidents on Uganda’s roads.
As the injured passengers continue receiving treatment, many Ugandans have expressed relief that no lives were lost in the Soroti crash while hoping for the full and speedy recovery of everyone who was injured, especially the driver who sustained severe injuries.
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