JUST IN: YY Bus Catches Fire, Dozens Feared Dead

Several people are feared dead after a bus veered off the road and caught fire along the Njeru–Katosi Road.

The accident happened on the evening of May 05, 2025. It involved a YY Bus registration number UAV 702J.

By publication time, it was not clear how many people died in the accident.

Images of the the wreckage painted a scary picture of what might have happened inside the bus which was involved in the accident near Makindu Trading Centre in Najja Sub County of Buikwe District.

Locals battled with the fire until the arrival of firefighting trucks. The locals succeeded in pulling some passengers out of the bus alive.

Some of the survivors from the accident were rushed to nearby health facilities, most of them in critical condition.

The management of YY Coaches and Courier Services has issued a statement on the accident.

“It is with deep regret that we inform the public of an incident involving one of our coaches along the Mbale route. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. Rescue operations are actively underway to assist and provide medical care to the injured,” the statement read.

“We are working closely with the relevant authorities and will continue to offer support to the victims and their families during this difficult time. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”

YY Coaches has previously been involved in accidents which have claimed lives.

In 2013, at least 11 people were killed after a YY bus was involved in a headon collision with a sugarcane truck on the Tirinyi-Mbale Road.

In 2016, five people were killed after a YY Coaches bus overturned in Iganga District. In 2020, six people died in a YY Coaches bus accident in the Mabira forest area.

POLICE ISSUES STATEMENT ON YY BUS ACCIDENT

We confirm a single fatal road crash that occurred today, May 5, 2025, at approximately 5 PM in Makindu Village, along the Kisoga–Nyenga Road in Buikwe District.

The crash involved a Scania motor vehicle, registration number UAV 701C, belonging to YY Company. The vehicle was traveling from Katosi to Jinja when the driver lost control at Makindu Village.

It overturned and caught fire, resulting in the loss of lives, who are yet to be identified and injuries to multiple passengers who have been rushed to Kawolo Hospital, St. Francis Lwanga Hospital in Buikwe, and other nearby health facilities, where they are currently receiving medical attention.

Police and emergency services are on the scene, working to extinguish the fire & retrieve the bodies of those who perished in the crash.

SP Michael Kananura | The Community Liaison Officer/ Public Relations Officer Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety – 9:18 PM, May 5, 2025

 

ANOTHER UPDATE: YY Coaches Suspended

The ministry of Works and Transport has suspended Y.Y Coaches from operating on all routes for 15 days, effective Tuesday, May 13, following a string of serious road accidents involving the company’s buses.

The suspension was announced after a meeting between ministry officials and Y.Y Coaches management, during which the government expressed grave concerns over the company’s safety standards and driver conduct.

In a letter signed by the state minister for Transport Fred Byamukama, the ministry cited two recent fatal crashes as key reasons for the decision.

“The ministry is deeply concerned about the recent series of accidents involving your buses,” Byamukama wrote.

These two crashes point to recklessness by your drivers and a failure in the company’s operational management,” Byamukama noted.

As part of the suspension, the ministry has ordered Y.Y Coaches to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations and undertake comprehensive safety reforms.

The company must:

Present all its buses for re-inspection by a joint team from the Uganda Police Force (Directorate of Traffic) and the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Produce the drivers involved in the two accidents for further action by the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety.

Submit a complete list of all its drivers, along with their appointment letters and driver badges.

Provide a schedule of refresher training and evidence of drivers who have undergone such training in the past year.

Issue a public statement explaining the recent incidents and outlining the safety measures being put in place to prevent future occurrences.

The 15-day suspension is aimed at enforcing accountability and ensuring that public transport operators prioritize passenger safety. — The Observer

The accident happened days after another one in which Rajiv Ruparelia was killed after his car burst into flames. (See Details Here, There and Over There).

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