A school trip meant to give children a chance to learn outside the classroom ended in tragedy after a bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School crashed in eastern Uganda, leaving 21 people dead.
Police said the victims included 20 pupils and one adult. The crash happened on Thursday evening at Chekwatit Village in Kimawa Parish, Kawowo Sub-county, Kapchorwa District, as the bus was returning from an educational tour to Sipi Falls, one of Uganda’s best known tourist attractions.
The vehicle involved was an Isuzu bus, registration number UA 108BQ, owned by King David Junior School in Ndejje, Makindye Division, Kampala.
Traffic and Road Safety Police spokesperson Michael Kananura confirmed the death toll on Friday, describing the incident as one of the country’s deadliest school transport accidents in recent years.
The loss has left families, classmates and teachers mourning children who had set out on what was expected to be a memorable educational excursion. Many schools across Uganda organize such trips to expose learners to the country’s natural and historical sites, making the tragedy particularly painful for parents and educators.
Road crashes involving buses continue to raise concerns about road safety in Uganda, especially during school trips and long distance travel. Safety advocates have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, improved vehicle inspections and greater caution by drivers navigating hilly and winding roads.
Police said investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief across the country, with many Ugandans expressing condolences to the bereaved families and the King David Junior School community as they struggle to come to terms with the devastating loss.
