21 Killed as School Bus Crashes in Uganda, Dozens of Students Injured

July 17, 2026

New Delhi: At least 21 people, including 20 school children and one adult, were killed after a school bus carrying students on a study tour crashed in Uganda’s eastern Kapchorwa district on Thursday evening. Several other students and staff members sustained injuries in the accident.

Mechanical Fault Suspected Behind Crash

According to preliminary findings, the bus suffered a mechanical failure while travelling downhill on Chekwatit Hill. Police said the driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, hit a large roadside rock and overturned.

School Founder Among Those Killed

The bus belonged to King David Junior School in Ndejje and was returning from a field trip to the popular Sipi Falls tourist destination. Local Government Minister Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara confirmed that the school’s founder and director, Tadeo Ssekade, was also among those killed.

Road Safety Concerns Grow in Uganda

Eyewitnesses rushed to rescue injured children from the wreckage before emergency teams arrived. The tragedy has once again raised concerns over road safety in Uganda, where speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous roads continue to contribute to thousands of fatalities every year. The accident also follows several recent school bus crashes reported across the country.