Uganda has been thrown into mourning after a school bus transporting children from an excursion crashed in the country’s eastern region, killing at least 21 people, including 20 pupils.
The fatal accident occurred on Thursday in Chekwatit Village, Kapchorwa District, as the bus was returning to Kampala after a visit to the Sipi Falls tourist attraction.
Police identified the vehicle as belonging to King David Junior School and said preliminary findings suggest the driver lost control while travelling along the route. Investigators reported that the bus veered off the road, struck a large rock and overturned. Several passengers survived the crash but sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
In a statement issued by the Uganda Police Force, spokesperson Michael Kananura confirmed that the victims comprised 20 schoolchildren and one adult. He said officers had launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the tragedy.
“We wish to confirm that, following the fatal road traffic crash, a total of 21 people, comprising 20 pupils and one adult, have so far been confirmed dead.”
The police also disclosed that the adult who died was the school’s proprietor, who had accompanied the pupils on the educational trip.
Emergency responders, supported by residents of the area, worked for hours to rescue survivors from the wreckage before they were rushed to medical facilities. Photographs released by authorities showed the bus badly damaged after the impact.
The incident has once again highlighted the persistent challenge of road safety in Uganda, where serious traffic accidents claim thousands of lives annually.
According to official statistics, reckless driving, excessive speed, mechanical faults and poor road conditions remain among the leading causes of fatal crashes across the country. Road safety advocates have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved standards for vehicles used to transport schoolchildren.
The latest disaster has drawn sympathy from across Uganda, with many expressing grief over the loss of the young lives. As investigators continue their work, authorities are expected to examine the condition of the vehicle, the driver’s actions before the crash and other factors that may have contributed to the accident. The findings are expected to guide measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.
