Passengers stranded as police impound YY bus, driver arrested
The impounded bus belonging to YY Coaches and Courier Services parked at Iganga Police Station on September 17, 2019. PHOTO BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA
What you need to know:
It was also discovered that passengers who were leaving Mbale Town on Tuesday morning were meant to travel on a bus UAY 057V as indicated on the tickets given to them and not the impounded one which was meant to be in Kampala.
Over 60 passengers travelling from Mbale District in a Kampala-bound bus belonging to YY Coaches and Courier Services were left stranded after police in Iganga District impounded the vehicle for breaking traffic rules.
The bus, identification number UAX 276H, was on Tuesday afternoon impounded in Iganga Town and its driver arrested for breaking the 'route chart rules' which were recently given to the company in the wake of numerous road accidents perpetuated by its drivers.
Mr David Ndaula, the District Police Commander, said it was discovered that the impounded bus 'worked the whole night' from Kampala to Mbale yet it was meant to set off from Kampala today at about 3pm, according to the route chart.
“To make matters worse, the bus was being driven by the very driver who worked the whole night and didn’t have time to rest which is unacceptable,” he added.
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It was also discovered that passengers who were leaving Mbale Town on Tuesday morning were meant to travel on a bus UAY 057V as indicated on the tickets given to them and not the impounded one which was meant to be in Kampala.
“The bus was meant to be in Kampala and not Mbale; so we have arrested the driver for breaking traffic rules,” Mr Ndaula said.
Adding: "We discovered that most of the buses were getting involved in road accidents because their drivers were overworked and had no time to rest.”
Some of the stranded passengers at Iganga Police Station on September 17
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Passengers who were travelling on the bus were left stranded at Iganga Police Station, with some claiming that they didn’t have money to board taxis.
Mr Isaac Mafabi, a resident of Mbale who was taking his child to school, said he was 'badly inconvenienced'.
“My child was supposed to report today at Seeta High School but it is afternoon and we are still here on pondering the next move,” Mr Mafabi said.
Ms Patricia Naula, a student of Our Lady's College, Namugongo, who was among the students affected, said: "This interruption has affected me and I want to return home because by the time I reach I will not be allowed in the school.”
By press time, some of the passengers were boarding taxis, while those without money were still stuck at Iganga Police Station, hoping that another bus from the same company would show up.
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