At least 20 children and a teacher have died in a devastating school bus crash in Uganda after the vehicle struck a rock on a notoriously treacherous road, with 60 others believed to have sustained injuries.
Details of the Crash
The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle following the impact and appeared to have experienced a mechanical failure at approximately 8pm local time on Thursday, causing the bus to veer off Chekwatit Village road. The pupils were returning home from a school excursion to Sipi Falls, Kapchorwa District, Uganda.
Ugandan police confirmed the vehicle overturned at the roadside following the collision with a large rock. Emergency services descended upon the scene to discover dozens of individuals had been ejected from the bus. Numerous people remained trapped within the wreckage and were transported to three separate local hospitals following their rescue. Several adult males sustained serious injuries alongside many children, police confirmed.
Official Statements
A Ugandan police chief said: "We wish to confirm that, following the fatal road traffic crash that occurred yesterday evening at Chekwatit Village, a total of 21 people, comprising 20 pupils and one adult, have so far been confirmed dead."
The crash involved an Isuzu bus, registration number UA 108BQ, belonging to King David Junior School, Ndejje, Makindye Division, Kampala. The Uganda Police Force extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the management of King David Junior School, and all those affected by this tragic incident. We also wish the injured a quick and full recovery.
Victims and Response
Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, Minister of Local Government, confirmed the fatality was the school's founder and director Tadeo Ssekade. Neither the driver nor any of the youngsters have yet been identified, according to reports. Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the collision are currently underway.
Kapchorwa Resident District Commissioner Stanley Bayole commended the local community following the incident. He said: "The response from the community has been overwhelming. People brought bedding, offered transport and joined rescue efforts without hesitation. This is a strong sign of humanity and solidarity during a very difficult moment."
Notorious Accident Hotspot
Chekwatit Hill, the location of the collision, is extensively documented as amongst Uganda's most notorious accident hotspots, having witnessed numerous fatal incidents throughout the years. This incident ranks among the most devastating involving schoolchildren in Uganda in recent times. Just one week earlier, a pupil and teacher lost their lives when a bus carrying students collided with a train in Mukono District. Authorities confirmed a further 14 fatalities in a head-on collision between a bus and a trailer on the Kampala-Gulu Highway earlier this month.
