At least 20 children and a teacher have been killed after a school bus crashed into a rock on a notorious road in Uganda, with 60 others believed to be injured. The accident occurred at around 8pm local time on Thursday, July 16, when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to a mechanical fault, causing the bus to veer off the road in Chekwatit Village, Kapchorwa District.
Details of the Crash
The students were returning home from a school trip to Sipi Falls when the Isuzu bus, registration number UA 108BQ, belonging to King David Junior School in Ndejje, Makindye Division, Kampala, struck a large rock and overturned on the roadside. Emergency services found dozens of people flung from the bus, with many trapped inside the wreckage. Survivors were rushed to three different local hospitals.
Official Statements
Ugandan police confirmed the death toll, saying: “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 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.”
Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, Minister of Local Government, identified the deceased adult as the school’s founder and director, Tadeo Ssekade. The driver and the children have not yet been identified. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
Community Response and Road Notoriety
Kapchorwa Resident District Commissioner Stanley Bayole praised the community’s response: “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.”
Chekwatit Hill, where the crash occurred, is widely reported as one of Uganda’s leading accident black spots, with many fatal crashes happening over the years. This incident is one of the deadliest involving school children in Uganda in recent years. Just one week earlier, a student and teacher were killed when a bus transporting pupils collided with a train in Mukono District.
