At least 20 children and one adult have been killed after a school bus carrying pupils overturned in eastern Uganda while returning from an educational trip to Sipi Falls, police said. The tragic accident occurred on Thursday evening in Chekwatit Village, Kapchorwa District.
According to preliminary police investigations, the driver lost control of the bus, which veered off the road, struck a large rock along the roadside and overturned. The impact left the vehicle extensively damaged, with emergency responders and local residents working together to rescue survivors trapped inside the wreckage.
Police confirmed that the victims included 20 pupils and one adult. Three adult men and several children sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims as efforts continue to notify their families.
The pupils were from King David Junior School in Kampala and were returning home after an excursion to the popular Sipi Falls tourist site. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether speeding, mechanical failure or road conditions contributed to the accident.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over road safety in Uganda, where fatal road accidents remain common due to speeding, poor road infrastructure and poorly maintained vehicles. Authorities have pledged a full investigation as the nation mourns one of its deadliest school transport accidents in recent years.
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