Wilfred Arinda Nsheeka is the LC 5 Male youth councillor for Rubanda District (PHOTO/Courtesy).
RUBANDA – Traveling by bus in Uganda, especially from southwestern Uganda to Kampala, is a total nightmare. I’ve used nearly every bus company, and they’re all a disaster. The service is so bad it almost feels like the people running these buses are daring you to complain. But what choice do we have? We’re stuck with these terrible options.
The biggest frustration is the time they waste. You can get on a bus at 2 PM, and they’ll confidently tell you that it’s leaving in ten minutes. But hours later, you will wait for hours. I once tried to complain, and one staff simply told me, “If you don’t come back, what will I lose?” That’s how little they care about customers. It’s like we don’t matter. The lies they tell feel like a slap in the face, and it’s almost as if making passengers suffer is just business as usual.
And when the bus finally starts moving, things only get worse. Buses are packed more than they carry. Some days, the number of people standing is the same as those seated. It’s a dangerous mess. Traffic officers don’t care. They enter these buses, ignore the fact that there are no seatbelts, and turn a blind eye to everything. They’re more interested in other things, and it’s the passengers who are left to take all the risks.
Inside the bus, it’s like being trapped in a dirty, smelly box. The seats are so cramped, it feels like they’re designed for torture. If you’re tall, forget about sitting comfortably. They pack in as many seats as possible to make more money, with no thought for the passengers who have to endure the ride.
And when something goes wrong—like the bus breaking down—you’re completely abandoned. No compensation, no apologies, nothing. You could lose your money, your luggage, or even worse, your time, and it wouldn’t matter to them. They put up signs promising free WiFi and other amenities, but it’s all just smoke and mirrors. Meanwhile, foreign buses passing through Uganda feel like a completely different world—clean, comfortable, and actually reliable. Why can’t our buses learn from them?
What’s shocking is that the Ministry of Transport only seems to care when there’s a major accident. But what about the everyday horrors passengers face? Where is the ministry when buses are dirty, overloaded, and unsafe? Why are they always silent? It feels like nobody is watching out for us, and that’s terrifying.
The police are no better. We see the horrifying bus accidents, but nothing ever changes. How can almost 100 people die in crashes every month, and no one in power seems to care? It’s like the government is asleep on the job, and we’re the ones paying the price with our lives. It’s shameful that these issues are never even discussed in Parliament. This is a crisis, and yet the people responsible for solving it are silent.
Uganda’s bus transport system is broken beyond belief, and the people in charge of fixing it are either too corrupt or too lazy to care. The Ministry of Transport, the police, and even our MPs need to wake up. This isn’t just about bad service—it’s about people’s lives. We can’t keep dying on these buses just because of poor management and greed.
The writer, Wilfred Arinda Nshekantebirwe is the LC 5 Male Youth Councillor for Rubanda Districtwilfredarinda@gmail.com
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Ugandan Citizen Abducted, Held in Secret Detention for Three Months, Sparks Outrage and Calls for Justice
A disturbing new case of unlawful detention has surfaced, highlighting the ongoing human rights crisis in Uganda. A Ugandan citizen was reportedly abducted and held in a secret facility, known as a “safe house,” for three months, only to be released without charge or explanation. This incident, reported by NTV Uganda, has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses in the country.
While the details surrounding the abduction remain unclear, reports indicate that the individual was taken without due process and held incommunicado—an action that has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The victim’s release, with no charges filed and no clear justification, has angered activists and citizens, who view this as yet another case of egregious abuse of power by the state.
“This is a recurring pattern,” said one human rights activist. “Abductions, secret detentions, and unexplained releases have become all too common in Uganda. These acts violate fundamental human rights and erode public trust in the justice system.”
The use of “safe houses,” unregistered detention facilities reportedly operated by security forces, has been a focal point in numerous allegations of torture and illegal imprisonment. Despite repeated calls from both local and international organizations for their closure and accountability for those involved, little action has been taken to address these violations.
This case underscores the urgent need for reform within Uganda’s security apparatus and greater accountability for human rights abuses. Observers hope that drawing attention to these injustices will spur concrete action to bring those responsible to justice and ensure the protection of basic human rights.
As frustration mounts, calls for both domestic and international pressure to hold the government accountable for such crimes grow louder. “One day, there must be accountability for all these crimes against our people,” stated one social media user, reflecting the sentiments of many Ugandans.
National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi has accused Ugandan security forces of using excessive force to disrupt a planned NUP gathering. The allegations were detailed in a statement shared on Twitter, following an event held to honor children of NUP supporters who were killed, disappeared, or detained for their political beliefs.
According to Kyagulanyi, security personnel, under the command of an officer identified as Asiimwe, carried out a preemptive operation early in the morning upon learning of the NUP’s plans. The forces allegedly stormed the premises, arrested workers, and deployed tear gas to disperse those present.
“The criminals under the command of one Asiimwe deployed early morning, arrested our workers, and threw tear gas into our premises. They’ve cordoned off the premises and blocked all people from accessing the place,” Kyagulanyi wrote.
Among those reportedly arrested were Saava Peter, Mudenya Samson, and Turyasingura Samson. Kyagulanyi claimed the detained workers were subjected to beatings and interrogated about their political affiliations, with security operatives labeling them as terrorists.
“These JATT operatives asked the workers who they support politically, branding them terrorists and criminals—their only crime being that they work with us. You can imagine the indignity!” Kyagulanyi lamented.
This incident adds to the growing tension in Uganda’s political climate, where opposition parties frequently accuse the government of stifling dissent. Despite the challenges, Kyagulanyi ended his statement with a message of defiance and optimism, proclaiming, “UGANDA WILL BE FREE.”
NUP Gathering Disrupted: Kyagulanyi Alleges Security Force Harassment and Arrests
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Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum
Sudan has demanded an official apology from Uganda over “offensive and dangerous” comments made by the chief of Uganda army staff, who threated to invade Khartoum, the Sudan Tribune has reported.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and CDF of the Ugandan army, posted two comments on the X platform on Tuesday in which he threatened “to capture Khartoum” with the support of the US President elect Donald Trump after he takes office. The posts were deleted later.
“The government of Sudan demands and official apology from the Ugandan government for the offensive and dangerous comments of the army commander,” Sudan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the Sudan Tribune said it has seen.
Sudan Demands Apology from Uganda Over Army Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Threat to Invade Khartoum