education 13 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
School Reopening Tarnished by Mbarara-Bushenyi Crash; Kamuli Mandates Immediate Instruction
The start of Uganda's third school term was marred by a serious multi-vehicle accident on the Mbarara-Bushenyi Highway, injuring students returning to school. Meanwhile, Kamuli district officials have directed schools to commence teaching on the very first day of the term. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/school-reopening-marred-by-mbarara-bushenyi-crash-as-kamuli-orders-immediate-teaching-5593760
As students across Uganda prepared to return for the third academic term on September 14, 2026, a significant road crash on the Mbarara-Bushenyi Highway cast a shadow over the reopening. The three-vehicle collision, involving a Toyota Premio, a Sahara, and a Toyota RAV4, occurred on Sunday, September 13.
Eyewitnesses reported that a Sahara vehicle traveling towards Mbarara was involved in a collision with two vehicles coming from Mbarara after one lost control. While no fatalities were confirmed at the scene, several individuals sustained serious injuries. Among the injured were two students in uniform, reportedly unconscious when transported for medical attention. The students were believed to be traveling back to school for the new term.
The accident has intensified concerns about road safety on the busy Mbarara-Bushenyi route, with locals calling for government intervention to address frequent accidents. Police had yet to release an official statement on the cause of the crash by Sunday afternoon, but eyewitness accounts pointed to a loss of vehicle control.
In response to the importance of maximizing instructional time, Kamuli District’s Chief Administrative Officer, Bob Lawrence Marley, issued a directive to all schools. He stressed that the third term is critically short, especially for candidate classes facing examinations, and therefore, teaching must commence immediately upon students’ arrival. Marley warned against the common practice of treating the first day as merely a reporting or cleaning day, emphasizing that teachers must be prepared to start lessons promptly.
The district plans to closely monitor teacher attendance and will implement salary deductions for days not worked to curb absenteeism. Marley also reminded private schools to ensure their transport vans are inspected and authorized for learner transport. Kamuli District LCV Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala urged parents to ensure children report with necessary materials and to support school feeding programs, highlighting the collective responsibility to help students catch up after the holiday teaching ban.