A Bebeto Company bus traveling from Juba to Uganda became the target of a deadly ambush this morning, September 24, leaving one person dead and many others fighting for their lives.

The bus, registered SSD 089Z, was caught in a hail of gunfire when a group of unidentified insurgents launched an attack in the notorious Lakarakak area, located between Lyerjebe and Kubi. Survivors recounted the terrifying moment when the rebels suddenly emerged from the woods and opened fire on the vehicle.

Panic ensued as passengers, desperate to survive, smashed through the bus windows and fled into the surrounding forest. The rebels reportedly set the bus ablaze, leaving chaos in their wake.

Yiga Ashton, one of the leading conductors for the bus company, said that of the 43 passengers on board, only 12 have been accounted for, while the rest remain unaccounted for, likely still hiding in the bush with severe injuries.

Rescuers evacuated some of the wounded to the nearby town of Aruu, while others were rushed to Gulu Hospital for emergency treatment.

In the aftermath of the ambush, the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have deployed troops at the Uganda-South Sudan border to screen those entering Uganda.

According to Maj Peter Mugisha, spokesperson for the 4th Battalion, investigations are ongoing to uncover the full details behind this shocking attack.