A Gateway bus veered off the road and plunged into a swamp near Odelo Market in Kumi early Tuesday morning, leaving at least four people critically injured and several others with various degrees of harm.

The accident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. along the Soroti-Mbale highway in Kumi district. The bus, registration number UBP 492W, which was en route to Kampala from Soroti, reportedly lost control after ramming into the rear of a stationary trailer parked on the roadway.

According to ASP Stephen Mukombe, the South Kyoga Police Spokesperson, a Mercedes-Benz trailer with registration number KBP 546J/Z25, driven by Ali Hassan, a Kenyan national, was parked along the roadside near Odelo Market when the incident occurred.

"The bus knocked the parked trailer and veered off the road," Mukombe stated. "The preliminary cause of the accident was obstruction of the road."

The impact left the Gateway bus significantly damaged. Police quickly responded to the scene, evacuating the four critically injured persons to nearby health facilities for urgent medical treatment. Several other passengers sustained minor injuries.

In the immediate aftermath, a glimmer of assistance emerged when a YY bus, also traveling from Soroti to Kampala, stopped at the scene. The YY bus accommodated the stranded Gateway travelers, allowing them to continue their journey to the capital.

Police have since appealed to truck drivers to adhere strictly to road safety guidelines, particularly encouraging the use of reflective warning signs and hazard indicators when parking along roadways, especially at night. ASP Mukombe also urged all drivers to remain vigilant while driving at night and to maintain safe speeds on highways to prevent similar tragedies.

"We also ask drivers to remain vigilant while driving at night and to maintain safe speeds, particularly on major highways where visibility may be limited," Mukombe added.

The police have now launched investigations to ascertain the actual cause of this accident. By the time of publishing, the Gateway bus company had not yet issued an official statement regarding the accident.

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