Uganda’s Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. John Chrysostom Muyingo, has released fresh details about the tragic King David Junior School bus accident that claimed the lives of 21 pupils in Kapchorwa District.
While addressing the nation, the minister provided an official account of the number of learners who participated in the educational tour and explained how the pupils had been transported to the destination before the fatal accident occurred.
According to Hon. Muyingo, King David Junior School had a total enrollment of 936 pupils at the time the educational trip was organized for selected learners.
He revealed that 217 pupils were allowed to participate in the tour, which was intended to provide learners with educational exposure outside the classroom.
The minister explained that the pupils travelled in a convoy consisting of four vehicles, including two school buses and two smaller support vehicles that accompanied the learners throughout the journey.
However, tragedy struck when one of the buses, which was carrying 107 pupils, became involved in the devastating road accident while the learners were returning from the trip.
“The school had 936 pupils, and 217 of them went for the trip in four vehicles; two buses and two small cars. The bus carrying 107 pupils is the one that was involved in the accident. Twenty-one pupils have been confirmed to have lost their lives, and their bodies are at Kapchorwa Hospital,” Hon. Muyingo said.
The heartbreaking accident has left families, teachers, classmates and the entire country mourning the young lives that were lost in one of Uganda’s worst school transport tragedies in recent years.
Government officials said the remaining pupils who had travelled in the other vehicles were safely accounted for, while those injured in the crash were rushed to different health facilities for emergency treatment.
Several survivors continue to receive medical attention as doctors monitor their conditions and provide the necessary care following the horrific incident.
The tragedy has also prompted the government to launch comprehensive investigations into the exact circumstances that led to the crash.
Authorities are examining factors such as the mechanical condition of the bus, road conditions, driver conduct and whether all safety requirements had been observed before the journey commenced.
Following the accident, the Ministry of Education and Sports announced the immediate suspension of all school educational trips across Uganda pending a full review of safety regulations.
Government has also unveiled stricter measures for school transport, including mandatory vehicle inspections, enhanced driver screening and tighter supervision of educational tours.
The accident has sparked widespread public concern, with parents, education stakeholders and road safety campaigners calling for stronger enforcement of transport regulations to protect school children.
Leaders from different parts of the country have continued sending messages of condolence to the affected families while urging schools to prioritize learner safety above all other considerations.
Many Ugandans have also praised emergency responders, medical workers and security agencies for their efforts in rescuing survivors and supporting affected families during the difficult period.
As investigations continue, government officials say every effort will be made to establish the cause of the tragedy and implement measures aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future.
The nation continues to mourn the lives lost in the Kapchorwa crash, while families, friends and the education fraternity remember the pupils whose promising futures were cut short in the devastating accident.
