The wreckage of the HMK bus that claimed the lives of the pupils
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Two pupils from Star Junior School in Makindye, perished in a tragic road accident that left eleven others in stitches.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at Kagavu, along the Mubende–Kampala highway, happened when a school bus carrying the children overturned.
ASP Michael Kananura, the Uganda Police spokesperson for traffic, said that the bus, registration number UAP 829U and operated by HMK Transporters Ltd. was returning from a school tour in Kasese when the driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to overturn.
“Although initial findings point to fatigue as a major cause of the crash, investigations are still ongoing,” he said in an interview on Sunday.
He urged school administrators to ensure that the safety and well-being of pupils is considered first before any decision to transport them is made.
“Overnight return journeys must be stopped forthwith. This is because driver exhaustion is a significant risk factor in this and can lead to fatal accidents,” he said.
According to the 2023 Annual Crime Report by the Uganda Police Force, over 20,300 road crashes were recorded that year, claiming more than 4,800 lives. A sizable number of these were pedestrians and children.
Police singled out fatigue, reckless driving, and mechanical failure as the leading causes of road accidents.
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