Abapakasi Bus Company Accused of Fleecing Passengers

Abapakasi Bus Company is under scrutiny following multiple complaints from passengers alleging fraud and mistreatment during their journeys.

Abapakasi Bus Company is under scrutiny following multiple complaints from passengers alleging fraud and mistreatment during their journeys. The bus that plies the Kampala-Kabale route reportedly picks up passengers under the assurance of transporting them to Kisoro District, Kigali in Rwanda, and Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Passengers traveling to Kisoro are charged UGX 70,000, while those heading to Kigali and Goma pay UGX 100,000. In comparison, other bus companies with official route charts for Kampala-Kigali-Goma charge between UGX 70,000 and UGX 80,000. However, upon reaching Kabale town, Abapakasi bus operators allegedly force passengers to disembark, leaving them stranded and forcing them to spend extra money on alternative transport to continue their journey. 

Frustrated passengers are now calling on security agencies to take action. Macvic Mugisha, a resident of Nyakinama Sub-County in Kisoro District, recounts his experience in December 2024 at Kampala’s Namayiba Bus Park. He says he was convinced by Abapakasi bus operators that the bus would take him directly to Kisoro for UGX 80,000. However, he was ordered to get off the bus upon reaching Kabale town. When he questioned why the bus did not proceed as promised, he was ignored and verbally abused. 

Similarly, Patience Aturinda, another passenger, boarded the same bus in mid-January 2025 under the impression that it would take her to Kisoro. Upon reaching Kabale, the driver and operators parked the bus and disappeared. After waiting for 30 minutes, another group of operators emerged and ordered all passengers to leave. Aturinda, who had already paid UGX 100,000, was forced to spend an additional UGX 8,000 to reach Kisoro. She is now urging authorities to investigate the fraudulent practices of the bus company.

Wilson Mucunguzi, the Kabale District Traffic Police Officer, confirmed receiving multiple complaints from passengers who were abandoned in Kabale despite being promised travel to Kigali, Rukungiri, and Kanungu Districts. Gilbert Mwebembezi, the Kigezi Regional Police Community Liaison Officer, also acknowledged the issue, calling it an act of deception that must be stopped.

Amon Arineitwe Byakatonda, an inspector at the Volcano Bus Kabale office, expressed concern over the growing number of stranded passengers abandoned by Abapakasi Bus. He added that such practices damage the reputation of the bus transport sector. 

Davis Akanyijuka, the Manager of Abapakasi Bus in Kabale, attributed the problem to mismanagement at the company’s head office in Kampala. According to Akanyijuka, some booking clerks overcharge passengers UGX 100,000 for a trip to Kigali but only remit UGX 50,000 to the head office, ensuring the passengers are dropped off in Kabale while the clerks pocket the difference.

Kabale District Police Commander Charles Okello warned that if the company fails to address the fraudulent practices, its staff risk arrest and prosecution for theft and obtaining money by pretenses