21 DIE AS SCHOOL BUS CRASHES IN UGANDA

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

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

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.

“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.

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

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.

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

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