Uganda suspends all school trips following bus accident near Sipi Falls; over a dozen injured in collision.
By Reuters and The Associated Press
Published On 17 Jul 2026
Twenty students and one adult were killed when a school bus overturned while returning to Kampala from a field trip to Sipi Falls in eastern Uganda, according to local authorities. The accident occurred near Chekwatit village in Kapchorwa district after the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to collide with a large stone and roll over.
Three adults and more than a dozen children sustained injuries, with over 28 students receiving medical treatment. Ugandan Minister of Local Government Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi confirmed that nine of the injured children remain in critical condition.
The bus, operated by King David Junior School, was carrying students back from an educational excursion when the crash took place. The adult victim is believed to be the school’s founder and head. Local residents arrived at the scene before emergency responders and assisted in transporting survivors to hospitals, some using private vehicles.
The crash site lies approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) from Kampala, near the Uganda-Kenya border. In response, the government announced an immediate suspension of all school trips and excursions nationwide.
Uganda’s road infrastructure is known for its hazardous conditions, with frequent accidents linked to speeding, poorly maintained vehicles, and deteriorating roadways. Earlier this month, 14 people died in a bus-truck collision in northern Uganda, while a multi-vehicle crash on the Kapala-Gulu highway in October claimed 46 lives.