In brief
A school bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School on a field trip crashed on Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa, eastern Uganda, killing 20 children and the bus’s director in what is one of the country’s deadliest incidents involving children. Preliminary evidence points to a mechanical fault that caused the driver to lose control, veering the vehicle off the road and striking a large roadside stone. Dozens of students and staff sustained injuries as the bus overturned. Local officials report that the bus had been on its return from a tour of the Sipi Falls when the accident occurred at about 20:00 local time. The tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of Uganda’s school transport safety, noting that speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and risky roads are common causes of traffic deaths across the country.
At least 20 children and one adult died when a school bus crashed in the Kapchorwa area of eastern Uganda.
Dozens of students and staff were injured as the vehicle, carrying pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje, overturned after striking a large stone on Chekwatit Hill.
Preliminary investigations suggest a mechanical fault caused the bus to lose control during a descent, a stretch of road that has previously seen serious crashes.
The incident occurred at about 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT) on Thursday night in Chekwatit village, Kawowo. The bus’s director, Mr Tadeo Ssekade, was among those killed, and local officials say the tragedy involved a field‑trip return from a visit to the Sipi Falls.
Ugandan Minister of Local Government Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara posted on X: “Sadly, 20 children and 1 adult, who happens to be the founder and director, Mr Tadeo Ssekade, have gone to be with the Lord.”
Video footage from witnesses shows the wreckage while nearby residents rushed to help the injured. Estimates say the crash leaves a community still in shock, as the region maps illustrate the road’s perilous curvature.
The incident is one of Uganda’s most lethal road accidents involving children, adding to the country’s annual toll of thousands of road deaths caused by speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and dangerous road conditions.
The crash has intensified calls for tighter safety regulations for school transport, following a series of serious bus accidents across Uganda in recent weeks.
