KAMPALA, Uganda – The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended the operations of Nile Star Coaches effective 6:00 PM today following a fatal accident that claimed multiple lives in Nwoya District earlier this week.
The suspension, which will last for 30 days, comes after a Nile Star bus collided head-on with a trailer truck along the Karuma-Pakwach highway in the early hours of May 4, 2026. The crash occurred at approximately 1:15 AM in Lapok Mor Village, Purongo Town Council, Nwoya District .
According to police reports, seven people died in the collision, while sixteen others sustained injuries and were rushed to Anaka General Hospital . Four passengers died instantly at the scene, with three additional victims later succumbing to their injuries .
The bus, registration number UBP 736U, was traveling from Arua to Kampala carrying approximately 67 passengers when the driver attempted to overtake two vehicles ahead and collided with an oncoming Benz Actros trailer .
Driver Identified, Allegedly Under Influence
Preliminary investigations have identified the driver as Abugo Mandella Kadin, also known as Kasim Mandela Abugo, a 64-year-old who is currently in police custody .
According to ministry sources, the driver had reportedly been dismissed from YY Coaches prior to joining Nile Star. Investigators allege he was driving recklessly and under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Troubling History and Passenger Warnings
Eyewitness accounts reveal that passengers had repeatedly raised concerns about the driver's behavior throughout the journey from Arua . Survivors told police that three separate attempts were made by passengers to stop the driver from speeding, but he allegedly ignored all pleas and responded rudely .
This is not the first tragedy involving Nile Star Coaches. In October 2025, between 46 and 63 people died in Kiryandongo District when a Nile Star bus collided head-on with a Planet bus . The company has faced intense public and regulatory scrutiny following a series of devastating crashes on major Ugandan highways .
Suspension Terms and Conditions
The Ministry of Works and Transport has issued the following directives:
- 30-day suspension of all Nile Star Coaches operations effective today at 6:00 PM
2. The company must compensate families of those who lost their loved ones
3. Nile Star must issue a public apology for all fatalities caused
4. The driver, Abugo Mandella Kadin, is banned from driving any vehicle
Broader Context
The Annual Crime Report 2025, released on March 30, 2026, by the Uganda Police Force, highlighted a concerning surge in road carnage despite a 10.2 percent drop in overall crime . Road traffic deaths rose to 5,383 in 2025, up from 5,144 in 2024, averaging 15 deaths daily .
