At least 20 pupils and a adult were killed in a bus crash near Chekwatit Hill in eastern Uganda, officials say.
The vehicle, carrying students from King David Junior School on a field trip, was reportedly undergoing a mechanical fault before the driver lost control and veered off the hillside, striking a large stone and overturning at around 20:00 local time.
The crash occurred in the Kapchorwa area, as confirmed by police reports. A total of 20 children and one adult, identified as the school founder and director M. T. Ssekade, died instantly. Dozens—mostly students and staff—were injured and brought to the nearest health centre.
Eyewitness videos show the wreckage: a twisted bus, a shattered windshield, and residents rushing alongside to offer first aid. The incident was captured on mobile phones before emergency services arrived.
“The tragedy reminds us that road safety is a national priority on the African continent,” says the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, in a post on X. He added that numbers of road deaths in Uganda reach thousands annually, citing speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous roads as leading causes.
The accident comes amid fresh public scrutiny over school transportation after a string of serious bus incidents that have rattled parents and authorities alike.
“We mobilise for an investigation, and for stricter enforcement of safety regulations for all school transport,” the minister added.
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