Kapchorwa, Uganda (Running Africa) — At least 21 people, including 20 pupils and a school director, were killed after a school bus crashed in Kapchorwa District, eastern Uganda, during an educational trip on 16 July 2026.

The victims were travelling from King David Junior School in Ndejje when the bus reportedly developed a mechanical fault while descending Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road known for frequent and deadly accidents.

According to police, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, slammed into a large roadside rock and overturned.

School Director Among Those Killed

Authorities identified the adult victim as Tadeo Ssekade, the founder and director of King David Junior School, who was accompanying the pupils on the study tour.

Dozens of students and staff members sustained injuries in the crash and were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Emergency responders worked through the evening to rescue survivors and recover the victims from the wreckage.

Government Suspends School Trips

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Ugandan government announced the immediate suspension of all school educational trips nationwide while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Officials are expected to examine the vehicle’s mechanical condition, the events leading up to the accident and whether safety regulations were followed.

Road Safety Under Renewed Scrutiny

The fatal crash has intensified concerns over road safety in Uganda, where traffic accidents continue to claim thousands of lives each year.

Experts have long cited speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, dangerous road conditions and inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations as some of the leading causes of fatal crashes across the country.

The Kapchorwa tragedy is among the deadliest school transport accidents in Uganda in recent years and has renewed calls for stricter safety inspections, improved road infrastructure and stronger transport oversight to protect schoolchildren.