At least 20 children and one adult were killed in a school bus crash in Uganda, police said Friday. The elementary school bus was returning from an educational tour to the region’s Sipi Falls waterfalls on Thursday night when it crashed in the Kapchorwa District in eastern Uganda, according to a statement from the Uganda Police Force posted on X.
Survivors, including three adults and several children, were transported to local hospitals. Authorities have not yet released an exact number of injured individuals. The bus was identified as belonging to King David Junior School, an elementary school located in the capital city of Kampala.
Preliminary reports from the police indicate that the driver lost control of the bus, causing it to veer off the road, strike a rock, and overturn. The investigation into the exact cause of the crash is ongoing. A police photograph depicted the bus on its side with its roof completely removed, exposing the interior seats.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Uganda, often attributed to factors such as poorly maintained vehicles, excessive speeding, and the generally poor condition of many roadways.