A devastating road accident in eastern Uganda has claimed the lives of 20 students and the school's director, Tadeo Ssekade, after a bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School crashed on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred in the Kapchorwa district when the vehicle, reportedly suffering from a mechanical fault, lost control on the treacherous Chekwatit Hill. Police reports indicate the bus veered off the road and overturned after striking a large stone.
The victims were returning from a study tour at the Sipi Falls when the disaster struck at approximately 20:00 local time. Local officials have confirmed that dozens of others, including staff members, sustained injuries in the wreck.
In response to the catastrophe, Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo has ordered an immediate halt to all school educational trips pending a full investigation into the safety of student transport.
This tragedy highlights the ongoing crisis on Ugandan roads, where thousands of deaths occur annually due to a combination of speeding, dangerous infrastructure, and the widespread use of poorly maintained vehicles.
The government is now under pressure to address these systemic failures following a string of recent bus accidents that have raised serious concerns about the safety of children in transit.
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