The driver of the fateful bus that claimed the lives of 24 people in last week’s King David Junior School tragedy was among those killed in the horrific crash, Uganda Police has confirmed, as authorities appealed to bereaved families to collect the remaining bodies from Mulago City Mortuary in Kampala.
The confirmation by Police puts to rest widespread speculation that the driver had survived the accident, which claimed the lives of pupils, teachers and other occupants as the school bus returned from an educational tour in Kapchorwa.
Speaking on Monday, Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police Rusoke Kituuma revealed that although many families had already collected the remains of their loved ones, several bodies were still lying unclaimed at Mulago City Mortuary after being transported from eastern Uganda to Kampala.
“All the bodies that have not been claimed yet have been brought back to Kampala and remain at City Mortuary at Mulago,” Kituuma said.
He urged relatives of the deceased who had not yet identified or collected the bodies to work closely with police and mortuary officials to complete the process, saying authorities were continuing to coordinate with affected families.
Kituuma explained that police were still compiling updated records to establish exactly how many bodies remained unclaimed.
“For now I do not have the exact number of bodies that have not been claimed because the process of collecting them is still ongoing. Our mortician will give us an update,” he said.
The devastating accident involved a bus transporting pupils and teachers of King David Junior School, Ndejje, who had travelled to Kapchorwa on an educational tour before disaster struck on their return journey.
The tragedy shocked the nation, triggering an outpouring of grief from parents, schools, religious leaders and government officials. It also reignited concerns over the safety of school transport and the risks associated with long-distance educational trips.
Police confirmed that a total of 24 people died in the crash, making it one of the deadliest school transport accidents in Uganda in recent years.
Addressing rumours circulating on social media and other platforms, Kituuma dismissed claims that the bus driver had escaped the crash.
“I wish to confirm a total of 24 lives were lost in that accident. There were also questions about whether the bus driver escaped, but I can confirm that he was among those who lost their lives,” he said.
The clarification comes after conflicting reports emerged in the aftermath of the accident, with some suggesting the driver had survived and could assist investigators in reconstructing the final moments before the crash.
Instead, investigators are relying on forensic evidence, witness accounts and mechanical examinations of the wreckage to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
As investigations continue, the government has maintained its suspension of all school educational trips across the country.
The directive, announced shortly after the accident, remains in force pending recommendations from an ongoing multi-agency investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Kituuma urged school administrators, parents and transport operators to comply fully with the government’s decision.
“For now the suspension of all school trips remains and we advise schools to heed to the directive,” he said.
Authorities believe the temporary suspension will provide sufficient time to review existing safety regulations governing school transport and educational excursions.
Beyond the immediate investigations, police are already considering a number of proposals aimed at preventing similar tragedies in future.
Among the ideas under discussion is the deployment of escort vehicles to accompany buses carrying schoolchildren on long-distance journeys.
Kituuma said the proposal had attracted interest but had not yet been adopted as official government policy.
“For now there is an inter-agency committee that has been instituted to look into the matter. We think that is a good proposal and we shall table it before the committee,” he said.
The committee, comprising representatives from security agencies and relevant government ministries, has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the Kapchorwa crash while also recommending reforms to strengthen the safety of school transport nationwide.
Its work is expected to examine issues ranging from driver qualifications and vehicle roadworthiness to journey planning, emergency response mechanisms and enforcement of transport regulations governing school buses.
The committee’s findings are likely to shape future government policy on educational trips, with stricter operational guidelines anticipated once investigations are concluded.
Meanwhile, families continue to mourn the loss of children, teachers and other victims whose lives were cut short in the tragedy.
At Mulago City Mortuary, officials continue working with relatives to facilitate identification and release of the remaining bodies for burial, while police have appealed for patience and cooperation during the ongoing process.
As the nation grieves, attention is increasingly turning to ensuring that lessons from the Kapchorwa disaster translate into meaningful reforms that will better protect schoolchildren travelling on educational tours.
For many Ugandans, the tragedy has become a painful reminder that while educational excursions offer valuable learning opportunities, they must be matched with rigorous safety standards to ensure that every child who sets out on such a journey returns home safely.
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