Police in Kampala have started investigating circumstances under which a speeding bus rammed into a moving train on Thursday morning.
involving a Trinity Express bus and a Uganda Railways passenger train.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, the incident happened at Namumira railway crossing in Mukono District when a Trinity Express bus, registration number RAH 629B, driven by Bulya Erat, failed to stop at the railway crossing point and was struck by the train, registration 73U32, operated by Munyarurembo Henry.
“The train damaged the rear part of the bus, but fortunately, no lives were lost and no injuries were reported,” Onyango said.
Onyango said police officers responded promptly to the scene, took statements from witnesses, and are conducting further investigations.
The bus, the train, and their operators were taken to the Uganda Railways offices in Kyetume, where the bus driver is assisting with the ongoing inquiry.
In a statement, Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) confirmed that its technical team had been dispatched to the scene to re-rail the locomotives and restore normal operations.
“Our team is currently on site to re-rail the locomotives and ensure resumed operation. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time,” URC said.
URC further used the accident to caution motorists about recklessness at level crossings, stressing that trains operate round-the-clock.
“URC operates trains 24 hours a day. This means that, at any one point of the day, a train is crossing a road between Kampala and Malaba, Port Bell and Nalukolongo. You are therefore advised to approach level crossings with caution,” the statement added.
The suspension of the morning commuter train services left hundreds of travelers stranded, with many forced to resort to road transport amid heavy traffic on the Kampala–Mukono highway.
Police cautioned drivers to exercise maximum vigilance when approaching railway crossings.
“We want to remind all motorists that overspeeding and failure to observe traffic rules can have serious consequences. Drivers must adhere to safety guidelines, especially at railway crossing points, to avoid such incidents,” he emphasized.
