By AFP and AP

This article was published on 18 Jul 202618 Jul 2026.

Road accidents are a persistent problem in Uganda, frequently blamed on unsafe vehicles and infrastructure.

Three more schoolchildren have died from injuries sustained during a fatal bus crash in eastern Uganda, raising the death toll to 23 children and one adult, police said.

On Thursday night, a bus carrying students and staff from King David Junior School in Kampala was heading back to the city from Sipi Falls when the crash occurred.

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Police investigators said the driver lost control of the vehicle at Chekwatit village in Kapchorwa district, overturning the bus and hitting a large stone.

Six of the deceased have not yet been identified, and the adult who died is believed to be the school's founder and head.

Dozens of children were rushed to hospitals, with 23 of the injured still being treated in Kapchorwa General Hospital. Three other vehicles on the same trip returned home safely, police said.

Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports on Friday ordered a nationwide halt to school trips to allow for a “comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding recent crashes involving schoolchildren”.

Police also announced they will “provide escorts to ensure the safe return of learners to their respective schools”.

Uganda has one of the world’s worst road safety records, with crashes often blamed on poorly maintained vehicles and roads, as well as speeding.

Earlier this month, 14 people died when a bus and truck collided in northern Uganda. In October, at least 46 people were killed when two buses collided on a major highway.

This marks the third major bus crash in Uganda within months, following a collision that killed 14 people earlier this month and a separate incident in October that claimed 46 lives. In response, police will provide escorts for returning students. The Ministry's investigation may lead to long-term safety reforms.