Link Bus driver saves lives of passengers after falling ‘ill’ at the wheel

On Wednesday night, a driver from Link Bus Services rescued passengers traveling from Kampala to the Western Town of Kasese, potentially saving their lives.

Nelson Olung felt unwell while at the wheel in Kyegegwa town at around 6:00 am yesterday (Wednesday), which is approx. 177 km from Kasese, the bus’s destination.

In a phone interview this afternoon, the spokesperson of the bus company, Tom Aliinde, told this website, “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.” Aliinde added, “Our other members of the crew addressed the passengers and guided them accordingly. Our passengers were so grateful.”

He said that a substitute driver was hurriedly obtained from Fort Portal City, who professionally delivered the passengers to their respective destinations.

The bus left Kampala on the night of Tuesday (Feb. 6) and reached Kyegegwa at around 6:00 am when the incident happened.

Olung, whom passengers praised for managing the situation professionally, first received medical attention at a health center in Kyegegwa before traveling back to Kampala for further medical attention.

“He (Olung) is now in a stable condition,” Aliinde told this website.

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 a total of 110 drivers, according to information obtained by this website.

(Reporting by Julius Businge)