Tragedy Strikes Uganda as 21 Lives Lost in Fatal School Bus Accident

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A bus full of schoolchildren returning from a trip veered off the road in Uganda, killing 20 children and one adult, police said Friday.

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The east African country has a notorious road safety record, frequently recording bus or truck accidents along poorly maintained highways.

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The bus from King David Junior School in the capital, Kampala, was returning from a school trip to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District when it veered off the road, according to preliminary investigations by the police.

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“The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside, and overturned,” police said in a statement on X.

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“The crash claimed the lives of one adult male and 20 pupils, while three adult males and several juveniles sustained injuries,” it added.

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Police shared an image of a badly mangled and overturned bus, and said investigations were ongoing, with several children and adults receiving treatment in hospital.

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Fatal bus accidents are relatively common in Uganda. In October, two buses collided on a major highway, killing at least 46 people.

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A 2024 report said there were 4,434 fatal collisions and 5,144 deaths that year.

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AFP

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