Uganda: At least 21 people, including 20 schoolchildren and one adult, were killed after a school bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda.
The tragic accident occurred in the Kapchorwa district, marking one of the country’s deadliest road incidents involving children in recent years. According to local authorities, dozens of other passengers, including school staff, sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the bus suffered a mechanical failure before the driver lost control while descending Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road known for multiple serious accidents. Police said the vehicle veered off the road, struck a large roadside rock, and overturned.
I am deeply moved by the love, compassion, and humanity being demonstrated by the mothers and people of Kapchorwa.
What I’m witnessed is truly remarkable. Mothers are caring for the injured King David pupils as though they were their own children. Many have brought their own… pic.twitter.com/HOEcjh0PKB
— Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi. (@BalaamBarugahar) July 17, 2026
The bus belonged to King David Junior School in Ndejje and was transporting pupils back from an educational tour. The accident occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time (17:00 GMT) in Chekwatit village, located in the Kawowo area of Kapchorwa.
Uganda’s Minister of Local Government, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, confirmed the death toll in a post on X while visiting the crash site. Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara remarked that, “Sadly, 20 children and one adult, who happens to be the founder and director, Mr. Tadeo Ssekade, have gone to be with the Lord.”
Eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed the bus severely damaged as residents and emergency responders worked together to rescue injured children from the wreckage. Local media reported that the pupils had visited the scenic Sipi Falls, one of Uganda’s popular tourist attractions, before beginning their return journey.
The incident has renewed concerns over road safety and school transportation standards in Uganda. The country records thousands of road fatalities each year, with authorities frequently attributing accidents to speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, mechanical failures, and hazardous road conditions.
The latest tragedy follows several serious school bus accidents reported across Uganda in recent weeks, prompting fresh calls for stricter vehicle inspections and improved safety measures to protect students travelling on educational trips.
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