Woman loses leg as over 50 evacuated after Gate Way Bus crash

RUKIGA - The Police in Muhanga, Rukiga district have evacuated over 50 passengers from a Gateway Bus that derailed and overturned along the Ntungamo-Kabale Highway.

The incident occurred at about 6:10am on Sunday, May 25, 2025, when a motor vehicle registration number UBM 707X Scania Bus belonging to Gateway Bus Company hit a water channel and overturned, injuring several passengers on board.

According to the Police, the incident occurred at Rwabahazi cell in Muhanga town council along the Ntugamo-Kabale Highway in Rukiga district. The Police described the crash as serious.

It is said the bus knocked Dafroza Rwakinda Tumushabe, 77, a resident of Nyakabungo cell who walking on the shoulders of the road and sustained serious injuries. Her relatives later said one of her legs was amputated and was still receiving treatment in Kabale. The incident brought traffic to a standstill for hours as Police took hours to remove the wreckage.

Kigezi region Police spokesperson Elly Maate said the bus was traveling from Kampala to Kabale when the driver, Karim Balabye, 54, a resident of Bugembe Jinja district lost control.

“The driver lost control and knocked a female pedestrian who was walking on the shoulders of the road heading to Rwahi in Ntugamo district, then the bus hit a water trench and over turned, injuring some passengers and the pedestrian,” he stated.

The Police were yet to establish the cause of the accident but some passengers insisted that the driver could have dosed off and lost control, saying previously he had been seen dosing.

Balabye told the Police that the bus left Kampala at about 10:00pm and had about 50 passengers on board.

Survivor's ordeal

One of the passengers, Assumpta Kyomuhangi , 40, an employee of Bank of Africa in Kampala and a resident of  Nansana town in Wakiso district, said she was traveling with her two children who were going back to school. She said she was asleep at the time of the crash but one of her sons, Solomon Nabaasa, 15, a Senior Two student of St Joseph Buhara SS in Kabale, sustained serious injuries.

She said when the bus overturned and trapped them in their seats, her son saw blooding flowing and suspected that she had died, forcing him to become unconscious for hours.

The bus belonging to Gateway bus company that was involved in the crash.

She said she sustained some injuries and together with the second son, Anthony Nalinda, a pupil of Holy Family Nursery and Primary School in Kabale were evacuated and taken to a nearby health facility in Muhanga Town from where they were transferred to Rugarama Hospital in Kabale. Kyomuhangi said she was accompanying her two sons back to school for the second term that starts on Monday, May 26, 2025. 

Victims of crash identified

The Police identified as passengers who sustained injuries as 

1. Ronnie Nowamani, 18, a student and a resident of Nansana
   
   
2. Blaire Nowamani, 14, a resident of Kabale 
   
   
3. Brandon Nowembabazi, 11, from Kabale
   
   
4. Patience Busingye, 49, from Kampala
   
   
5. Benson Kicoco, 55, a businessman from Kampala
   
   
6. Pauson Assimwe, 40, a businessman from Rubanda district
   
   
7. Richard Basisha, 34, a Rwandan
   
   
8. Tracey Ninsima, 21, from Muhanga Town

Maate said all the victims involved in the crash were evacuated to Rotom Health Centre, and others were later referred to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for further management. The bus was towed and parked at Rukiga Central Police Station for safe custody pending inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles.