KAMPALA: At least 20 children and one adult were killed after an elementary school bus carrying students back from an educational trip to a scenic waterfall overturned in eastern Uganda, police said on Friday.
The crash occurred late Thursday in Kapchorwa District as the bus was returning from a visit to the Sipi Falls area, according to a statement from the Uganda Police Force.
Several survivors, including children and three adults, were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. At least nine children were reported to be in critical condition, while the adult killed in the crash was believed to be the founder and head of the school, Ugandan Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi said. He added that at least 19 others were injured.
. @M_Kananura “The Uganda Police Force confirms that police in Kapchorwa have this evening registered a fatal road traffic crash involving a school bus, registration number UA 108BQ, transporting pupils of Kings David Junior School, Ndejje.
The crash occurred at Chekwatit… pic.twitter.com/glghTPX2AH
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) July 16, 2026
Local residents who reached the scene after the nighttime crash found injured children near the wreckage and helped transport them to medical facilities, according to footage shared by the Uganda Red Cross.
Videos showed victims inside and around the damaged bus as emergency responders and residents rushed to assist. Some survivors were taken to hospital in a pickup truck.
Al menos 21 personas murieron en un accidente en el este de Uganda, en el distrito de Kapchorwa, cuando el conductor del bus escolar en el que viajaban perdió el control del vehículo, que chocó contra una roca y volcó, confirmaron las autoridades este viernes. pic.twitter.com/G9FUDw6faD
— 2001online (@2001OnLine) July 17, 2026
Police said the bus belonged to King David Junior School, an elementary school based in Kampala. The crash site was located near the Uganda-Kenya border, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) from the capital.
According to preliminary police information, the driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a rock and overturned. Authorities said the cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Images released by police showed the bus lying on its side with its roof torn off and seats exposed, while luggage and clothing were scattered along the road.
Road accidents are frequent in Uganda and across much of Africa, often linked to speeding, poor road conditions and poorly maintained vehicles. Earlier this month, at least 14 people were killed when a bus collided with a truck in northern Uganda.
The World Health Organisation and the United Nations say Africa has the highest road fatality rate globally, with more than 300,000 road deaths each year and about 26 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with around nine per 100,000 in Europe.
