A new wave of fear and sadness has swept across Uganda after another school bus carrying students was involved in a road accident in Kamuli District, just days after the tragic Kapchorwa accident that claimed the lives of more than 20 pupils.
The latest incident happened along the Jinja–Kamuli Highway near Busota Health Centre III, where a bus carrying students from Nalango Secondary School reportedly collided with a stationary sugarcane truck.
According to preliminary reports, the bus belonged to Buzaaya Secondary School and was transporting students who were returning from an educational trip when the accident occurred.
Fortunately, unlike the deadly Kapchorwa crash, no deaths have been reported in the Kamuli accident. However, several students sustained injuries, with some said to be in critical condition.
Emergency response teams quickly arrived at the scene and rushed the injured students to Kamuli General Hospital for medical attention. Health workers immediately began attending to the victims as anxious parents and school officials sought updates.
The accident has increased concerns among Ugandans over the safety of school trips, especially following a series of crashes involving buses carrying learners across different parts of the country.
Many parents have expressed fear and frustration, questioning whether enough safety measures are being followed before schools allow children to travel long distances.
The Kamuli accident comes only hours after Uganda was still grieving the tragic Kapchorwa bus crash involving King David Junior School pupils, where several children and the school director lost their lives.
The Kapchorwa tragedy shocked the nation after a school bus returning from a trip to Sipi Falls lost control and overturned, leaving families mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Before the Kapchorwa disaster, another school bus belonging to Amuria High School and carrying students from St. Paul Secondary School Katakwi crashed into a stationary trailer along the Mbale–Iganga Highway.
That accident left the driver dead and several students injured, adding to growing concerns about school transport safety in the country.
Another tragic incident was also reported along the Mukono–Katosi road, where a bus carrying students from Mwebaze High School reportedly collided with a train, leaving people dead and others injured.
The repeated accidents have sparked calls from parents, education stakeholders and road safety experts for urgent action to protect learners travelling for educational activities.
Following the Kapchorwa tragedy, the Ministry of Education and Sports announced the suspension of all school trips across Uganda pending investigations and the development of stronger safety guidelines.
However, by the time the directive was issued, some schools had already started their journeys, including the students from Nalango Secondary School whose bus later crashed in Kamuli.
Police have also intensified inspections of school buses across the country, with some vehicles intercepted for violating traffic regulations.
Earlier, police stopped buses carrying pupils from St. Kizito Primary School in Kampala after discovering cases of dangerous overloading.
One of the buses was reportedly carrying more than 100 pupils, raising further questions about whether some schools and transport operators are prioritising profit over children’s safety.
Authorities have repeatedly warned schools and drivers against overloading, speeding, and using vehicles that are not fit for transporting learners.
Road safety officials have urged schools to ensure buses are properly inspected, drivers are qualified, and all safety requirements are followed before any journey begins.
Parents have also called upon the government to strengthen monitoring of school trips so that children can learn and explore safely without being exposed to unnecessary danger.
As investigations continue into the recent accidents, many Ugandans are hoping that lessons will be learnt and that stronger measures will be introduced to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
For now, the nation continues to pray for the quick recovery of the injured students and comfort for families affected by the recent wave of school transport accidents.
