School bus crash in Uganda kills at least 20 children

Thu Sep 10 2026 13:00:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A bus carrying pupils on a field trip crashed in eastern Uganda, killing at least 20 students and a teacher, prompting new safety concerns for school transport.

A tragic bus crash on Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa district killed at least 20 pupils and one adult. The vehicle suffered a mechanical fault that caused it to veer off the road, strike a roadside stone and overturn. Numerous staff and students were injured, marking another serious accident in Uganda's troubling road safety record. Local officials and the Minister of Local Government called for a review of school transport safety regulations amid rising concerns.

School bus crash in Uganda kills at least 20 children

At least 20 students and one adult died when a bus transporting pupils from King David Junior School to a study tour crashed on Chekwatit Hill in Kapchorwa district, eastern Uganda.

Preliminary investigations point to a mechanical fault that caused the driver to lose control, veer off the road, hit a roadside stone and overturn. Dozens of staff and pupils were injured.

The fatality toll follows a pattern of deadly school transport incidents in Uganda, where speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and hazardous roads are common causes of road deaths.

Responses from local officials and the Minister of Local Government urge immediate review of school bus safety regulations, as several similar accidents have been reported in recent weeks.