30 killed in Uganda bus mishap

Over speeding and overloading are the main causes of frequent accidents on Uganda's highways, police say.

A commuter bus collided with a petrol tanker in central Uganda, killing 27 people instantly and a further three later from suffocation, said a police official on Monday.

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A Kenyan-registered semi-trailer carrying petrol to Rwanda had a head-on collision late on Sunday with the bus in Lugazi town, 40 km from the capital Kampala, said District Traffic Officer James Wakholi.

Seven other people who sustained injuries in the accident were rushed to hospital, Wakholi said.

"The three other people who died were chocked by petrol as they tried to scoop petrol which was flowing into the valley," said Joseph Mugisha, chief fire officer of the Ugandan police.

Police say that over speeding and overloading are the main causes of frequent accidents on Uganda's highways.