At least 20 pupils and one adult have died after a school bus carrying children on a study trip crashed in eastern Uganda, authorities have confirmed.
The accident occurred on Thursday evening at Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa, when the bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje reportedly developed a mechanical fault, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the road, hit a roadside stone and overturned.
Police said dozens of other passengers, including school staff, were injured in the crash and taken for medical treatment. The deceased adult was identified as the school’s founder and director, Tadeo Ssekade. The pupils were returning from a study tour to the Sipi Falls tourist area when the accident happened at about 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT).
The tragedy has renewed concerns over road safety in Uganda, where authorities continue to cite speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and hazardous roads as major causes of frequent road crashes.