The ill-feted YY bus burning to ashes before the Uganda Fire Brigade squad intervened
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Families of missing victims who perished in the YY Bus accident which happened on May 5th 2025 near Makindu Trading Centre in Buikwe District, have threatened to drag the Government to court, as well as the implicated bus company.
Several people are feared dead after a YY Coaches bus, registration number UAV 701C overturned and caught fire at Makindu Village, along the Kisoga–Nyenga Road in Buikwe District.
Several people are up to now waiting for news of their loved ones who are said to have perished in the disaster. Eye witnesses claim that three people died on the spot, and that the ill fated bus had more than 70 0ccupants by the time the accident occurred.
“Government failed to heed to our calls for a forensic investigation into the accident to determine how many people died in the crash and how many were on board at the time. We are giving it, as well as the owners of the bus 24 hours to act, or else we are going to take them to court to answer for their insensitivity,” said a concerned family member who referred to himself as Simon.
Added to his call is the family of the Manafwa District Service Commission chairperson, Canon Jimmy Musimbi, who are still waiting for his remains a week after the crash.
Canon Jimmy Musimbi is one of the alleged victims who is not accounted for todate
“We are considering taking the management of YY Coaches to court to explain what happened to Canon Musimbi’s body,” John Wilson Nandah, the Bishop of Mbale Diocese told Habari Daily.
When Habari Daily reached Suzan Kataike, the publicist of the Ministry of Works and Transport today, telephone calls went unanswered.
According to, Michael Kananura, the Traffic police spokesperson, said in an earlier interview that the incident occurred after the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and overturn before bursting into flames.
He acknowledged that there was loss of lives, although he never disclosed how many people were on the bus by the time the accident took place, and how many are still hospitalized.
“The accident resulted into 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,” said Kananura.
Families of the alleged victims are now calling upon the Government to come up with a list of the dead, the injured and where they are.
“Whoever perished in this fatal accident deserves a decent burial. Even those who are still nursing wounds in the various hospitals and clinics need to be found by their relatives to get the required care and comfort,” said Simon.
The Ministry of Works and Transport reported a 7% increase in road crash fatalities in 2024, compared to 2023. It reported that in 2024, Uganda experienced 25,107 road crashes, leading to 5,154 deaths.
