Uganda’s government has suspended all school trips following Thursday evening’s bus crash that killed at least 20 pupils and one adult who were taking part in an educational tour.
Dozens of others, including staff, were injured in the accident in Kapchorwa district, eastern Uganda.
What Caused the Uganda Bus Crash
Preliminary investigations suggest the bus had a mechanical fault before the driver lost control on Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road that local officials say has been the site of several serious crashes. Uganda records thousands of road deaths a year, but this incident ranks among the country’s deadliest involving children in recent times.
Traffic police spokesman Michael Kananura described what happened on Thursday. He said the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside, and overturned.
The bus, carrying pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje, crashed at about 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) at Chekwatit village. The pupils were returning from a study tour, with local media reporting they had visited Sipi Falls, a popular tourist area.
Government Suspends School Trips as Precaution
Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo announced a temporary ban on school trips until authorities complete a full investigation. “As an immediate precautionary measure, we must do something about the safety of our children,” he said. “The nation has suffered a great loss, I would like us to work hand in hand so that those who survived are well taken care of.”
Local Government Minister Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, who was at the scene, confirmed the deaths in a post on X. He said 20 children and one adult, identified as the school’s founder and director, Tadeo Ssekade, had died in the crash.
Videos shared by eyewitnesses showed the bus badly damaged, as local residents rushed to help the injured children.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Road Safety Concerns
Speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous roads rank among the leading causes of road deaths in Uganda, according to traffic authorities. The latest crash comes amid renewed concern over school transport safety, following several serious bus accidents reported in the country in recent weeks.
