At least 20 students and one adult were killed, while several other students and school staff were injured after a school bus returning from a study tour crashed in Uganda's Kapchorwa District. The accident occurred on Thursday evening in the hilly Chekwatit area when the bus lost control, left the road and overturned.
According to local authorities, preliminary investigations indicate that the driver was unable to control the vehicle after it developed a mechanical fault. The road has previously been associated with several serious traffic accidents. Following the crash, the Ugandan government temporarily suspended all school educational trips nationwide and ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident.
Police said the bus was carrying students from King David Junior School, Ndejje, as they returned from a study tour. According to local media reports, the students had visited the tourist destination Sipi Falls. At around 8 p.m. local time, the bus reportedly lost control on a downhill section near Chekwatit village, struck a roadside rock and overturned. Witnesses said the front section of the bus was completely damaged in the crash.
According to local authorities, 20 students died either at the scene or while being transported to hospital. The deceased also included the school's founder and director, Tadeo Ssekade, who was travelling with the students. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals, where several were reported to be in critical condition. Authorities said the death toll could increase.
Uganda Police said initial findings indicate the bus suffered a mechanical fault. According to police, the driver lost control of the vehicle, after which it left the road, struck a large rock and overturned. However, final conclusions will be determined after the technical investigation is completed.
The Chekwatit Hill area has previously witnessed several serious road accidents. Local officials said the route carries a higher risk of crashes because of sharp bends, steep gradients and heavy vehicle traffic. Experts have long called for additional safety measures and improved traffic management on the road.
Following the accident, Uganda's Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo announced the temporary suspension of all school educational trips. He said children's safety was the highest priority and that such trips would not be permitted until the investigation was completed. The government also decided to review school transport arrangements and safety standards.
Local residents, police and emergency responders reached the scene shortly after the accident. Videos shared by witnesses showed villagers helping injured children out of the bus and taking them to ambulances. Rescue teams transported the injured to nearby hospitals, where treatment is continuing.
Thousands of people lose their lives in road accidents in Uganda every year. According to traffic authorities, speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, overloading and inadequate road safety standards are among the leading causes of crashes. Several recent school bus accidents have increased concern over the safety of children's transportation in the country.
Following the accident, education experts and parents called for regular fitness inspections of school buses, improved driver training and the selection of safer travel routes. Experts said educational trips are important for children's overall development, but ensuring their safety is equally essential.
