YY Coaches suspended after fatal bus crash along Mukono-Katosi highway

The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended YY Coaches for 15 days following two major road accidents, one of which claimed three lives and involved a bus bursting into flames along the Mukono–Katosi–Jinja highway.

In a letter to the company’s Managing Director, State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama cited reckless driving and managerial negligence as key factors in the incidents.

These two crashes point to recklessness by your drivers on the road and failure to control the conduct of your drivers, among other managerial concerns.

The fatal incident occurred on May 5 when a bus, registration number UAV 701C, overturned and caught fire at Najja village in Buikwe District. Three passengers died on the spot, and police reports attribute the crash to reckless driving. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and is still at large.

In a second incident, another YY bus, registration number UAX 852F, crashed at Ayango on the Pakwach–Arua highway. According to police, the crash occurred as the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle and lost control.

As part of the suspension, the Ministry has grounded the entire YY Coaches fleet starting at 7pm on Tuesday, May 13, to facilitate investigations into both crashes.

During this period, the company must submit all its buses for joint inspection by the Uganda Police and the Ministry. Additionally, YY Coaches is required to provide documentation on all its drivers, including proof of recent refresher training.

The Ministry has also ordered the company to produce the drivers involved in the accidents and issue a public statement detailing the incidents and outlining steps being taken to prevent future occurrences.

The suspension is expected to affect long-distance travel across several regions. YY Coaches operates extensively in eastern, northern, and northwestern Uganda, servicing routes from Kampala to cities including Arua, Yumbe, Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, Moroto, Kaabong, Mbale, Soroti, Busia, Malaba, and Kotido. The company also runs cross-border services to Nimule and Juba in South Sudan.

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