King David School campus at Ndejje
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Tears and grief are hanging around the King David School campus at Ndejje, near Namasuba as parents try to get more details about the where about of their dead children after one of Uganda’s worst school transport tragedies prompted the government to suspend all school tours nationwide.
The Ministry of Education and Sports announced the immediate suspension of all school excursions and educational trips following Thursday night’s horrific bus crash in Kapchorwa District that claimed the lives of 21 people, including 20 pupils and the founder and director of King David Junior School, Tadeo Ssekadde.
The temporary ban, issued on the directive of the Minister of State for Education, Dr. John Muyingo, is intended to protect learners as authorities undertake a comprehensive review of safety guidelines governing school trips across the country.
Education officials said the suspension will remain in force until further notice, giving the Ministry of Education and Sports, working together with the Ministry of Works and Transport, sufficient time to evaluate existing excursion regulations, transport safety requirements and emergency response measures.
The decision comes as investigators continue piecing together the circumstances surrounding the devastating accident that occurred while the pupils were returning from an educational tour to the popular Sipi Falls tourist attraction.
Mechanical fault
According to Uganda Police and local authorities, the King David Junior School bus, an Isuzu registration number UA 108BQ, developed a suspected mechanical fault at around 8:00 p.m. while descending the steep Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa District.
Preliminary findings indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle after the mechanical failure. The bus reportedly veered off the road, struck a large roadside stone and overturned at Chekwatit Village in Kimawa Parish, Kawowo Sub-county, an area police describe as a notorious accident black spot.
The crash instantly transformed what had been an educational excursion into a national tragedy.
Police confirmed that 20 pupils died alongside Ssekadde, while dozens of other children sustained injuries of varying severity.
The bodies of the victims were transferred to Kapchorwa Mortuary for identification and postmortem examinations as investigators continued examining the wreckage to establish the exact cause of the crash.
The suspension of school trips is one of the first major government responses to the tragedy, reflecting growing concern over the safety of pupils travelling long distances for educational tours.
Officials say the review will examine whether existing guidelines adequately address vehicle inspection requirements, driver qualifications, journey planning, emergency preparedness and roadworthiness certification before schools embark on excursions.
Ministers console victims
Meanwhile, government ministers travelled to eastern Uganda to assess the situation and comfort the injured children.
Local Government Minister Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, accompanied by the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, Simon Mulongo, visited survivors admitted to various health facilities.
“We found nine children in critical condition at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, 16 children receiving treatment at Kaserem Health Centre, three children at Bulambuli Health Centre IV, and the rest at Kapchorwa Hospital,” Balaam said.
“Sadly, 20 children and one adult, who happens to be the founder and director, Mr. Tadeo Ssekade, have gone to be with the Lord.”
The injured pupils remain admitted at Kapchorwa General Hospital, Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Kaserem Health Centre IV and Bulambuli Health Centre IV, with several receiving specialized treatment for critical injuries.
Balaam also commended residents and emergency responders whose swift action helped rescue survivors trapped inside the overturned bus.
“I sincerely thank the residents of Tingey County, Kaserem, who responded immediately as first responders, together with the regional emergency teams, for their compassion, courage and tireless efforts in rescuing and caring for the victims. Your selfless service has brought hope to many families during this difficult time,” he said.
Tragic trajectory
The Kapchorwa tragedy has once again highlighted the growing challenge of road safety in Uganda, particularly for school transport.
It follows another recent accident involving a Gulu Secondary School bus in Kigumba, where a conductor was killed and 17 students injured. It also comes shortly after a separate crash in Gomba District claimed six lives of people travelling to a wedding.
The succession of fatal accidents has renewed public debate over whether enough is being done to improve road safety and enforce traffic regulations.
According to the Uganda Police annual crime report, the country recorded 26,044 road crashes in 2025, an increase from 25,107 crashes registered in 2024.
Of those crashes, 4,602 were classified as fatal, resulting in the loss of more than 5,300 lives.
Police statistics indicate that reckless driving remains the leading cause of road accidents, accounting for more than 40 percent of all crashes. Speeding, dangerous overtaking, careless driving and tailgating continue to rank among the most common violations.
Call for Electronic Penalty System
The latest tragedy has also intensified calls for the full implementation of the revised Electronic Penalty System (EPS), which uses roadside cameras and automated number plate recognition technology to detect speeding and other traffic offences in real time.
Government officials argue that the technology is necessary because Uganda has fewer than 2,000 traffic officers responsible for policing a rapidly expanding number of vehicles. They believe automated enforcement, combined with stricter compliance by transport operators and stronger school transport regulations, could significantly reduce preventable road deaths and help ensure that educational trips never again end in such devastating loss.
