Eight people have been confirmed dead and 30 injured in a fatal accident Wednesday morning involving Uganda buses in South Sudan, the police has said.
The buses registration number UAU 251S travelling from the South Sudan capital Juba and another bus registration UAX 716J had a head on Collision at a sharp corner in Pageri Village, Magwi County about 40 kms from Nimule border.
Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson, Jimmy Patrick Okema told Acholi Times in an interview that police had received information that eight people died on the spot while another 30 sustained injuries.
Mr Okema said the drivers of the two buses and their conductors were among the dead.
The police spokesman identified one of the dead bus drivers as Richard Ondoga adding that identities of the others who died on the spot could not be established.
The injured were taken to Nimule Hospital for medical attention, the police said.
The Uganda police has sent an emergency ambulance to help transport some of the injured from Nimule to hospitals in Gulu for treatment.
The cause of the accidents had by press time not yet been established but over speeding is suspect to be the cause.
“We got reports that the buses were all being driven at high speed and at such high speed, any slight loss of control becomes catastrophic. We have continuously warned drivers against driving at breakneck speed,” Mr Okema said.
Witness speaks out
Ms Stella Acan who was travelling from Juba to Kitgum district in Uganda in a different vehicle said: “We found the buses had just collided. The front parts of the two buses were completely destroyed and there was no sign of anyone alive. At the back seats, injured people were crying for help others wailing they had been trapped,” Ms Acan said.
Past accidents along Nimule –Juba
In February last year, ten people died while seven others sustained injuries following a head on collision accident involving a Bakulu bus and a taxi at Nisitu Township along Juba capital.
In September 2014, over 30 people died following a head on collision with Bakulu Bus and a trailer at Nistu, 35 Kilometers from Juba town.
In December 2014, one person died while 10 others were critically injured after a head on collision accident involving a Baby Coach bus and an Isuzu truck at Aswa Bridge, 21km from Nimule Town in South
Sudan.
