Barely three days after suspending passenger bus operations due to a series of fatal accidents along the Kampala–West Nile route, Nile Trade Link Services, the company managing Nilestar Bus, has announced the resumption of its services. The bus company temporarily halted operations on Thursday, November 6, 2025, after three accidents were reported within less than ten hours in Wobulenzi, Kiryandongo, and along the Koboko-Yumbe road involving different buses on Wednesday and Thursday mornings last week.
A month ago, a Nilestar Bus traveling from Kampala to Yumbe collided head-on with a Platinum Bus from Gulu in Kiryandongo district, leaving 46 passengers dead and dozens injured across the two buses, a truck, and a private Congolese-registered vehicle. In an official statement issued on Sunday, November 6, 2025, Nile Trade Link announced the immediate resumption of passenger services, starting with ticket bookings and travel from Monday.
“Ending a critical transport hiatus for West Nile, Nilestar is pleased to inform the public and its valued customers that we will officially resume our full transportation services effective Monday, November 10, 2025. This decision to restart operations follows a comprehensive and collaborative period of preparation,” the notice reads in part.
According to the management, the company will continue an intensive refresher training program for all drivers to ensure the highest standards of professionalism and safety are upheld. The company noted that the temporary suspension had a significant impact on the socio-economic ecosystem of the transport sector in the West Nile region.
“We are grateful to have worked closely with the government’s Ministry of Works and Transport in a dedicated workshop focused on enhancing national transport standards, regulatory compliance, and passenger safety,” the resumption notice adds.
Some members of the public in West Nile welcomed the return of Nilestar services, though some questioned whether the three-day suspension was sufficient to address the series of tragic accidents. Morgan Akuma, a businessman in Arua and regular traveler to Kampala, posted: “Let those who want to use them go ahead. I will wait until I see them properly stabilized on the road.”
Following the announcement, a few passengers were observed at the terminal booking trips to Kampala this week. Meanwhile, Collins Asea, the Police Spokesperson for North West Nile, confirmed to URN that the company had resumed operations but declined to provide further details.
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