Tragedy in Kapchorwa: School Bus Crash Claims Young Lives, Dozens Injured

A tragic incident unfolded in Kapchorwa district on Thursday when a school bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School, Ndejje, veered off the road at Chekwatit Hill, resulting in multiple fatalities and numerous injuries.

The bus, bearing registration number UA 108BQ, was reportedly en route back from a study tour when it is alleged to have suffered a mechanical failure around 8 PM. This led to the driver losing control of the vehicle, which subsequently crashed. Chekwatit Hill has a grim reputation as a notorious accident blackspot in the region.

Fredmark Chesang, the Sipi Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the accident and indicated that preliminary findings point towards mechanical issues as the probable cause. Eyewitnesses reported the bus making several stops before the crash. Investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.

Emergency services, police officers, and local residents were quick to respond, with many needing to extricate trapped students from the wreckage. The injured were transported to Kapchorwa General Hospital and other nearby health facilities. Four critically injured students have been referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for specialized care.

Kapchorwa RDC Stanley Bayole lauded the community for their immediate and substantial assistance during the rescue efforts, highlighting their solidarity in assisting the victims and aiding in the recovery process. Police have not yet released the identities of the deceased, pending notification of their families. This accident marks one of the most severe involving schoolchildren in the Sebei sub-region in recent times, adding to a worrying trend of fatal road crashes nationwide.

Authorities are urging all vehicle operators, especially those managing public transport, to rigorously ensure their vehicles are in good mechanical condition before embarking on journeys, particularly on challenging routes like Chekwatit Hill.

Source: https://observer.ug/news/over-19-pupils-feared-dead-60-injured-in-kapchorwa-school-bus-crash