California Bus Loses Over Shs800m In Luggage Theft

ARUA. California Bus Company officials have lost more than Shs800m in luggage theft along Arua – Nebbi road.

The theft is as a result of the bad road condition especially between Arivu and Odianyadri trading centers which thugs have taken advantage of to loot passengers.

The thugs target buses, trucks and drone vans at the gully spots of the road in the night. They usually jump into the vehicles to throw out luggage whenever drivers reduce speed to negotiate through the bad spots.       

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Saverino Embati, the California bus proprietor, noted that he has so far lost over Shs800m in compensation for the lost luggage of his clients.

“I have lost over Shs800m now because every time the thieves steal my customers’ luggage; I compensate them and this has been ongoing. These thugs usually time the buses in the night when they reduce speed because of the bad road to steal,” Embati said.

He added that: “The problem is between Arivu and Odianyadri. Police have tried to arrest some of the thieves but every time they are arrested and taken to court; they are released on bail. When they (thieves) come out, they go back on the road to steal us because that is now their work. I want to appeal to Judges to help us by jailing these thugs for a longer period so that it can sound as a warning to others who would like to engage in this business of stealing people’s luggage.”

Embati also urged the government to consider working on the road as a sure way of solving the problem.

“I first of all, want to thank the government for working on the Pakwach – Nebbi road, it is now very good. In the same spirit, I would like to urge the government to also work on the road from Nebbi to Arua so that the thieves can’t take advantage of the potholes to jump into vehicles to steal passengers’ luggage,” Embati stressed.

Geofrey Omviti, one of the victims, who lost goods worth Shs4.8m in a California bus on the night of December 27, 2024, said the highway theft is greatly affecting their businesses.

“I had bought special clothes which I intended to sell to make profit for the new year but unfortunately all were stolen. Much as California bus management compensated me, I missed out on my planned profit on the clothes I bought and this is affecting us as businessmen in Arua. We want the government to come out and provide security for buses between Ulepi and Odianyadri at night because this is now too much for us,” Omviti appealed.

Similarly, Killion Baku, another businessman who lost goods worth Shs3.94m, said the government should prepare to start compensating them for failing to provide security for their goods along the stretch.

According to Baku, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that people are safe on the road and where it fails to protect people’s lives and property, the burden goes back on the State.

When contacted, Denis Ochama, the West Nile region police commander (RPC), said as police they are trying their best to control the situation.

He, however, noted that the dangerous spot along Arua – Nebbi road falls under Arua district police administration which is currently resource constrained to always patrol the area in the night.

But Ochama said they are in talks with the UPDF to establish a barracks in the area as a long-term solution to the problem.