Parents, relatives, and well-wishers have gathered at King David Junior School to mourn pupils and staff who died in a bus crash while returning from a school trip to Kapchorwa
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The process of identifying the victims of the devastating King David Junior School bus crash is continuing at Kapchorwa Hospital and Mbale Hospital in eastern Uganda, as grieving families await the return of their loved ones for burial.
Authorities have clarified that the bodies of the deceased pupils and teachers have not been transported to Kampala. Instead, identification and postmortem examinations are being conducted near the scene of the crash along the Kapchorwa–Mbale Road to facilitate forensic investigations and ensure every victim is properly identified before the remains are handed over to relatives.
The fatal accident occurred on July 17, 2026, as the King David Junior School bus was returning from an educational tour to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District. The crash claimed the lives of 31 people, including 26 learners and five teachers, while dozens of other pupils sustained injuries.
Officials said the postmortem examinations are expected to assist in confirming the identities of the deceased before the bodies are released to their respective families. Once the process is complete, the remains will be transported from eastern Uganda to Kampala and other parts of the country where funeral arrangements will be conducted by individual families.
At King David Junior School in Makindye, Kampala, scenes of grief have continued to unfold as parents, relatives, friends and members of the public gather to mourn and wait for official communication regarding the identification and return of the bodies. Many families have remained at the school since news of the tragedy broke, receiving updates from school administrators and government officials coordinating the emergency response.
The surviving pupils, many of whom sustained emotional trauma from the crash, were evacuated from the accident scene and safely transported back to Kampala aboard a Gateway Bus under the escort of the Uganda Police Force.
The police escort ensured the children travelled safely as authorities intensified efforts to manage the aftermath of one of Uganda’s deadliest school transport accidents in recent years.
The tragedy has also triggered an immediate nationwide crackdown on school transport. On the night of July 17, police intercepted 18 school buses that were transporting pupils on educational trips after they were found travelling at night in violation of newly introduced government directives.
The buses were stopped at the Njeru Checkpoint during an enforcement operation conducted by the Uganda Police Force following the Ministry of Education and Sports’ decision to suspend all school trips involving road travel and prohibit night movement for schools already on educational tours.
Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said officers escorted all 18 buses to a secure parking area where they remained until daylight before continuing with their journeys.
“Schools already on trips are reminded not to travel at night. Instead, they should report to the nearest police station for guidance and, where necessary, a police escort,” Kananura said.
He added that all school buses returning from educational trips must travel strictly between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., warning that police will continue enforcing the new regulations to safeguard learners.
The government has since suspended all school trips and study tours involving road transport until further notice as investigations into the Kapchorwa crash continue. Authorities say the suspension will remain in force while a comprehensive review of school transport safety is undertaken.
Among the measures announced are mandatory inspections of school buses before every journey, stricter vetting and clearance requirements for drivers, tighter approval procedures for educational trips, and the introduction of dedicated identification for school buses to improve monitoring and enforcement.
In addition, an inter-ministerial committee has been established to develop long-term regulations governing school transport, with the aim of strengthening safety standards and preventing future tragedies.
As families prepare to receive the bodies of their loved ones for burial once identification is completed, the nation remains united in mourning the loss of 23 pupils and five teachers whose educational trip ended in unimaginable tragedy.
Funeral arrangements are expected to begin immediately after the remains are released to relatives, bringing communities together to pay their final respects while Uganda reflects on the urgent need for stronger road safety measures to protect schoolchildren.
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