At least 20 students and one adult have been killed after a bus carrying pupils on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda, in one of the country’s deadliest road accidents involving children in recent years.
Dozens of others, including staff, were injured in the crash in Kapchorwa district on Thursday evening.
Local officials say preliminary investigations suggest the bus had a mechanical fault before the driver lost control on Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road that has been the site of several serious crashes.
According to a quote attributed to Ugandan Education Minister, John Muyingo, all school educational trips have been cancelled until an investigation is complete.
“As an immediate precautionary measure, we must do something about the safety of our children,” Mr Muyingo said.
“The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside, and overturned,” police said describing what had happened.
“Sadly, 20 children and 1 adult, who happens to be the founder and director, Mr Tadeo Ssekade, have gone to be with the Lord,” Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara posted on X, while at the scene.
The bus, carrying pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje, crashed at about 20:00 Hrs local time at Chekwatit village.
Local media reports say the pupils were returning from a study tour during which they had visited the Sipi Falls.
Uganda records thousands of road deaths every year, with speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous roads among the leading causes.
The latest crash comes amid renewed concern over the safety of school transport after several serious bus accidents were reported in the country in recent weeks.
BBC/Maxwell Oyekunle
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