At least 21 people, including 20 schoolchildren, have been killed after a school bus overturned in eastern Uganda while returning from an educational trip, police have confirmed. The victims were pupils from King David Junior School in Kampala who had visited Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District. The crash occurred on Friday as the group was traveling back to the capital. According to a statement from the Uganda Police Force, the driver reportedly lost control of the bus, causing it to veer off the road, hit a large roadside stone and overturn.
“The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside, and overturned,” police said. Authorities said the crash claimed the lives of 20 pupils and one adult male, while three adult men and several children sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment. Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, including whether speeding, mechanical failure or road conditions may have contributed to the tragedy.
The accident has once again highlighted Uganda’s poor road safety record. Road crashes remain a major public safety concern, with thousands of people killed every year due to speeding, reckless driving, poorly maintained vehicles and inadequate road infrastructure. According to official road safety statistics, Uganda recorded 4,434 fatal road crashes resulting in 5,144 deaths in 2024. In another major accident last year, 46 people were killed when two buses collided on one of the country’s busiest highways. Authorities have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and improved road safety measures to reduce the country’s high rate of fatal accidents.
