Government Suspends Educational Trips As Uganda School Bus Crash Death Toll Rises To 24

The death toll from a school bus crash in eastern Uganda has risen to 24 after three more pupils died from injuries sustained in the accident, police have said.

The victims were pupils of King David Junior School in Kampala who were returning from an educational trip to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District when their bus crashed on the Kapchorwa–Mbale Road on Thursday evening.

Uganda Police said 24 people have now been confirmed dead. Of those, 18 bodies have been identified, while three unidentified bodies are at Kapchorwa Hospital and another three are at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.

Police added that 23 victims remain admitted to Kapchorwa Hospital for treatment, while all surviving pupils who did not require admission have safely returned to Kampala aboard a Gateway Bus.

In an earlier statement, police said the Isuzu bus, registration number UA 108BQ, veered off the road, struck a large rock, and overturned at Chekwatit Village in Kapchorwa District after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle.

The bus was carrying pupils and adults from King David Junior School in Ndejje, Makindye Division, Kampala, who had travelled to Sipi Falls for an educational tour. Preliminary investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

The driver has not yet been formally identified. Police believe he suffered critical injuries and is among those receiving treatment in Mbale.

According to the police, the school trip left Kampala at about 05:00 local time using two buses and two taxis. The second bus and the taxis were not involved in the crash and returned safely to Kampala with all their occupants.

The tragedy prompted an emergency meeting convened by Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports.

Following the meeting, the government announced the immediate suspension of all school educational trips across the country while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding recent crashes involving schoolchildren and review existing safety guidelines.

The suspension is intended to allow investigators to determine the causes of the accidents, strengthen safety measures governing educational trips and conduct nationwide road safety awareness campaigns targeting schools, transport operators, teachers and other stakeholders.

The government also directed all schools currently undertaking educational trips to report to the nearest police station. Where necessary, police officers will escort the groups to ensure learners return safely to their schools.

In its latest statement, the Uganda Police Force extended its condolences to the bereaved families, pupils, staff and the wider King David Junior School community, saying investigations into the crash would continue and further updates would be provided as they become available.

Road crashes remain a major public safety challenge in Uganda, where authorities and road safety experts have repeatedly linked fatal accidents to factors including dangerous driving, poorly maintained vehicles and inadequate road infrastructure.