Uganda Orders Suspension of School Trips After Tragic Bus Crash

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:48:28 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A bus crash in Uganda killed 20 pupils, leading the government to halt all school field trips.

A school bus travelling from Ndejje to a field‑trip destination crashed on Chekwatit Hill, killing 20 pupils and a teacher. The incident, which likely involved a mechanical failure, prompted Uganda’s Education Ministry to suspend all school trips until a thorough investigation can be completed. Authorities said the road is notorious for accidents and that speeding and poor vehicle maintenance are major safety concerns.

Uganda orders suspension of school trips after bus crash

A school bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje crashed on Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa district, killing 20 children and one adult. The bus, which was returning from a field‑trip to Sipi Falls, overturned after hitting a large stone on a steep slope. Preliminary investigations point to a mechanical fault, and local traffic police say the driver lost control and the vehicle went off the road.

The incident is one of the worst involving children in Uganda and has triggered an emergency response from the Education Ministry. Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo announced a temporary ban on school field trips until a full investigation is completed, noting the need to protect children’s safety. He also urged the government to provide adequate care for survivors.

Traffic police spokesperson Michael Kananura described the accident as a veer‑off, impact with a stone, and subsequent overturning. The bus, bearing the number of stolen seats in Uganda’s record of thousands of road deaths each year, highlights issues of road safety, speeding, and poorly maintained vehicles—a growing concern after several other serious accidents.

Supporting the figures, local government minister Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara posted on X that 20 children and one adult, the founder and director of King David Junior School, had died. Witness videos show a wrecked bus and residents rushing to help. The Ministry is urging the public to cooperate in the investigation and review transport policies.

Government officials and communities are calling for renewed scrutiny of school transport safety. The incident underscores the urgent need for stricter oversight of vehicle maintenance and road conditions across Uganda.