Kampala -
A bus overturned and caught fire on a Ugandan highway on Tuesday, killing at least 30 people, police said.
A police official said a final death tally was still pending. Media reports said the figure could rise above 30.
Police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba told dpa “the driver failed to negotiate the corner and the bus overturned and caught fire. Personnel from emergency institutions are still getting out the bodies from the wreckage.”
The bus, from the Horizon Bus Company, overturned in Kyazanga township, about 150 kilometres south-west of the Ugandan capital, Kampala, and caught fire. At least 30 were feared dead, The Central Broadcasting Service CBS radio reported.
“Right now, I can safely say that 10 bodies have been got out from the burnt out bus, but they could be more as rescue teams continue work and we will get the factual figures,” Nabakooba said by telephone.
Road accidents claiming hundreds of lives on Ugandan roads are often blamed on speeding, overloading, the poor mechanical condition of vehicles and corruption among police traffic officials who allow non-roadworthy vehicles to ply the highways. - Sapa-dpa