Kampala, (UG): Link Bus Services Ltd have opened up on the Wednesday night incident in which one of their drivers turned heroic when he saved passengers travelling from Kampala to the Western Town of Kasese before collapsing on the wheel due to an illness.
The bus had left Kampala on the night of Tuesday (Feb. 6) and reached Kyegegwa at around 6:00 am on Wednesday, February 2024, when the incident happened.
The driver identified as Nelson Olung reportedly felt unwell as he drove in Kyegegwa town which is approx. 177 km from Kasese, the bus’s destination.
Speaking to DailyExpress in a phone interview on Thursday afternoon, the Spokesperson of Link Bus Services, Mr Tom Alinde, refuted reports that the driver collapsed dead and said he (the driver) felt unwell and eventually ran out unconscious.
“It is not true that our driver died. What is true is that he felt unwell – which is a normal thing – and parked by the roadside – as per professional logic. We got another driver who delivered the passengers to their destinations.” Alinde told this website
He added; “Our other members of the crew addressed the passengers and guided them accordingly. Our passengers were so grateful.”
According to Mr Alinde, a substitute driver was hurriedly obtained from Fort Portal City, who professionally delivered the passengers to their respective destinations.
“He (Olung) is now in a stable condition,” Alinde emphasized.
Olung, whom passengers praised for managing the situation professionally, first received medical attention at a health centre in Kyegegwa before travelling back to Kampala for further medical attention.
In November last year, social media was awash with news of a video showing a Link Bus driver using his smartphone while driving on the same route – Kampala – Kasese – Fort Portal – an act that was condemned by members of the public and authorities.
Link Bus Services has slightly over 100 buses in total, but about 90 are active daily across different routes in the country. The company employs approximately 110 drivers.
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