At least 20 schoolchildren and one adult were killed when a bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda on Thursday evening. Dozens more, including school staff, were injured in the accident in the Kapchorwa area.
The bus was carrying pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje and was returning from a study tour, reportedly visiting the Sipi Falls tourist area. The crash occurred around 8:00 p.m. local time in Chekwatit village, Kawowo area.
Preliminary investigations suggest the bus suffered a mechanical fault before the driver lost control on Chekwatit Hill, a section of road known for several serious accidents. According to police, the driver lost control, the vehicle veered off the road, struck a roadside stone, and overturned.
Minister of Local Government, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, confirmed the fatalities, stating on X that "20 children and 1 adult, who happens to be the founder and director, Mr Tadeo Ssekade, have gone to be with the Lord." He was present at the scene.
Eyewitness videos depicted a severely damaged bus, with local residents assisting injured children. Uganda records thousands of road deaths annually, with speeding, poorly maintained vehicles, and dangerous roads cited as primary causes by traffic authorities. This incident follows a series of serious bus accidents reported in the country in recent weeks, raising renewed concerns about the safety of school transport.