- A further 23 victims of the crash remain admitted at Kapchorwa Hospital, where they are receiving treatment
- School groups currently away on trips have been directed to report immediately to the nearest police station, with officers providing escorts where necessary to ensure the safe return of learners.
- Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports has announced a temporary, nationwide suspension of all educational trips to allow for a comprehensive investigation into recent crashes
The death toll from Thursday night’s road accident involving pupils of King David Junior School in Eastern Uganda has climbed to 24, after three more children died while undergoing treatment for their injuries, police have said.
The update was issued on Friday night by Michael Kananura, Public Relations Officer at the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, a day after the crash occurred at Kaserem along the Kapchorwa-Mbale Road.
According to police, the pupils were returning from a study tour when the bus they were travelling in reportedly developed a mechanical fault at around 8:00 pm on Thursday.
The driver is said to have lost control of the vehicle before it crashed, killing 21 people at the scene, among them 20 children and one adult. Three more victims later died while receiving treatment, bringing the confirmed death toll to 24.
“The school trip departed Kampala at approximately 5:00 am using two buses and two taxis (drones). The other vehicles, which were not involved in the crash, safely returned to Kampala with all their occupants,” Kananura said.
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Police said 18 of the bodies have since been positively identified, while three remain unidentified at Kapchorwa Hospital and three others are being held at Mbale Hospital. A further 23 victims of the crash remain admitted at Kapchorwa Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
All surviving pupils who did not require hospital admission have since been returned safely to Kampala aboard a Gateway Bus.
In response to the crash, Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports has announced a temporary, nationwide suspension of all educational trips to allow for a comprehensive investigation into recent crashes, the development of new road safety guidelines, and nationwide sensitisation targeting schools, transport providers and other stakeholders.
School groups currently away on trips have been directed to report immediately to the nearest police station, with officers providing escorts where necessary to ensure the safe return of learners.
By Masaki Enock
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