Fresh details have emerged surrounding the tragic King David Junior School bus accident in Kapchorwa District, with eyewitnesses claiming that the vehicle had developed mechanical problems before the fatal crash that claimed the lives of more than 20 people.
The heartbreaking accident happened on Thursday evening at Chekwatit Village, Kimawa Parish, Kawowo Sub-county in Kapchorwa District as pupils were returning from an educational trip to Sipi Falls.
According to police reports, the crash claimed the lives of 21 people, including 20 pupils and one adult, while several others sustained injuries and were rushed to different health facilities for treatment.
The pupils were travelling in a school bus registered UA 108BQ when the vehicle reportedly lost control, veered off the road, hit a large stone, and overturned.
However, new accounts from witnesses suggest that the bus had experienced mechanical challenges before the accident, raising questions about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
One eyewitness claimed that the bus developed problems shortly after reaching Amugul Sub-county, forcing mechanics to be called to inspect and repair the vehicle.
According to the witness, pupils were asked to get out of the bus while mechanics checked the vehicle, and the driver was reportedly informed that the problem was serious.
The witness alleged that mechanics warned the driver that the bus was not safe to continue carrying learners because of the mechanical condition.
“When the mechanics told the driver that the bus had a big problem and could not continue with the pupils, he insisted that he knew what he was doing,” the eyewitness said.
After the repairs were reportedly done, the pupils were allowed back onto the bus and the journey continued towards Sipi Falls.
The witness further claimed that the vehicle developed another problem at Towei Corner, where pupils were again asked to leave the bus as repairs were carried out.
The learners reportedly walked towards Sipi Falls while the driver worked on the vehicle before later driving uphill without the pupils.
After reaching the destination, the pupils were allowed to board the bus again as they prepared to return from their trip.
However, some local residents allegedly raised concerns about the safety of the vehicle and advised against continuing the journey.
According to the witness, the driver responded that he understood the situation and that the problem was minor.
“Locals insisted it wasn’t safe, but the driver said he knew what he was doing and that the bus had a minor problem,” the witness claimed.
Shortly after the journey continued, tragedy struck when the bus crashed, leaving families devastated and the country mourning the loss of young lives.
Police spokesperson Michael Kananura confirmed that 21 people had died in the accident, including 20 pupils and one adult male.
He said preliminary investigations indicated that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the road before overturning.
Several survivors were rescued and taken to Kaserem Health Centre IV, Kapchorwa General Hospital, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for medical attention.
Police have since launched investigations into the cause of the crash, including the reported mechanical problems and circumstances surrounding the journey.
Authorities are expected to examine the condition of the bus, question witnesses, and establish whether negligence or failure to follow safety procedures contributed to the tragedy.
The accident has intensified calls for stricter inspection of vehicles used for school trips and stronger enforcement of road safety regulations.
As families continue mourning the pupils who lost their lives, many Ugandans are demanding answers and hoping that lessons from the tragedy will prevent similar accidents in the future.
