BREAKING: YY Coaches Driver Remanded Over Deadly Buikwe Bus Fire
BUIKWE, Oct. 27, 2025 — The driver of the YY Coaches bus that overturned and burst into flames, claiming multiple lives in Buikwe District earlier this year, has been remanded to prison after appearing before court on Monday.
In a statement released by SP Michael Kananura, the Community Liaison and Public Relations Officer at the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, the suspect — Wadulo Musa — was on the run for months following the tragic crash before being arrested and produced before the Buikwe Chief Magistrate’s Court. He has since been remanded to Buikwe Prison pending trial.
The prosecution has slapped 16 charges against Wadulo, including:
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3 counts of causing death through reckless driving under Section 100(1) of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, Cap. 347,
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12 counts of causing bodily injury through reckless driving under Section 100(2), and
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1 count of causing an accident through reckless driving under Section 100(3).
The charges stem from the May 5, 2025, tragedy, when a Scania bus, registration number UAV 701C, belonging to YY Coaches, overturned and caught fire at around 5:00 PM in Makindu Village, along the Kisoga–Nyenga Road in Buikwe District.
The bus, which was traveling from Katosi to Jinja, was carrying dozens of passengers when it suddenly lost control. The wreckage burst into flames moments after the crash, leaving a scene of horror as several passengers perished and others sustained severe burns and injuries. Survivors were rushed to Kawolo Hospital, St. Francis Lwanga Hospital, and other nearby health facilities for emergency treatment.
SP Kananura noted that the arrest and prosecution of the driver mark “a significant step toward justice for the victims and accountability for reckless road behavior.”
The Ministry of Works and Transport, together with traffic police, has reiterated calls for commercial drivers to observe road safety regulations, warning that reckless conduct will no longer be tolerated.
Authorities say investigations into the Bukwe bus fire tragedy are still ongoing as the case proceeds before the Buikwe Chief Magistrate’s Court.
