At least 20 pupils and a school director were killed after a bus carrying children on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda, officials said, in one of the country’s deadliest recent road accidents involving schoolchildren.
Dozens of other passengers, including teachers and school staff, were injured when the bus crashed on Thursday evening in the Kapchorwa area.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the vehicle developed a mechanical fault before the driver lost control while travelling down Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road known for serious accidents.
The bus veered off the road, struck a large roadside rock and overturned at around 8:00 pm local time in Chekwatit village, in the Kawowo area, according to police.
The pupils were from King David Junior School in Ndejje and were returning from an educational trip. Local media reported that the group had visited Sipi Falls, a popular tourist destination in eastern Uganda.
Uganda’s Local Government Minister, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, confirmed the death toll while visiting the scene.
“Sadly, 20 children and one adult, who happens to be the founder and director, Mr Tadeo Ssekade, have gone to be with the Lord,” he said in a post on X.
Videos shared by witnesses showed the severely damaged bus lying near the road as residents and emergency workers rushed to rescue injured passengers.
The victims were taken to nearby hospitals, while authorities continued efforts to establish the full number of casualties and determine the exact cause of the crash.
Uganda records thousands of road deaths each year, with speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and hazardous road conditions frequently cited among the main causes.
The crash has renewed concerns over the safety of school transport following several serious bus accidents reported across the country in recent weeks.