THE DRIVER REFUSED TO STOP: Explosive New Details Emerge In Kapchorwa School Bus Horror That Claimed 21 Lives

KAMPALA/KAPCHORWA — Uganda is in mourning following one of the country’s deadliest school transport disasters in recent years after a bus carrying pupils from King David Primary School in Ndejje crashed in Kapchorwa District, leaving 21 people dead, including 20 pupils and the school’s director, Tadeo Ssekadde.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country, leaving grieving families desperately searching for answers as investigators work to establish the exact circumstances that led to the fatal crash.

In its latest update, the Uganda Police Force confirmed that the accident occurred at Chekwatit Village, Kimawa Parish, Kawowo Sub-county in Kapchorwa District.

Police said survivors, whose identities had not yet been officially released, were rushed to Kaserem Health Centre IV, Kapchorwa General Hospital and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for emergency treatment.

According to police, preliminary investigations indicate that the pupils had been on an educational tour to the popular Sipi Falls tourism site before the accident happened on their return journey.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the school bus had taken pupils on an educational tour to Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District. While returning from the tour, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road, struck a large stone along the roadside and overturned,” reads part of the police statement.

Police spokesperson Michael Kananura also confirmed the latest casualty figures in a statement posted on social media.

“@M_Kananura: We wish to confirm that, following the fatal road traffic crash that occurred yesterday evening at Chekwatit Village, Kimawa Parish, Kawowo Sub-county, Kapchorwa District, a total of 21 people, comprising 20 pupils and one adult, have so far been confirmed dead…”

Reports Raise Questions Over Bus Mechanical Condition

As investigators continue examining the crash, fresh details emerging from eyewitnesses have raised questions about the mechanical condition of the bus before the journey ended in tragedy.

According to information obtained by this publication, the bus is alleged to have developed mechanical problems on its way to Sipi Falls and was reportedly repaired twice during the trip.

Sources familiar with the journey claim mechanics and other individuals advised the driver to transfer the pupils to another vehicle after the recurring mechanical faults. However, the driver allegedly dismissed the concerns, describing the defects as minor and insisting he could safely continue the journey back to Kampala.

These claims have not yet been independently verified by authorities and remain part of the ongoing investigation.

A video reviewed by this publication also contains accounts from eyewitnesses who allege that the bus, said to belong to Liberty Tours and Travel, experienced mechanical difficulties before reaching Sipi Falls.

According to the witnesses, the breakdown forced pupils to walk part of the distance to the tourist attraction while mechanics attempted to repair the vehicle.

The witnesses further claim that local mechanics advised the driver to carry out comprehensive repairs before continuing the trip, but he allegedly chose to proceed after temporary repairs.

Police have not officially confirmed these allegations.

Claims of Possible Overloading

Additional information circulating following the crash has also raised concerns about the number of passengers on board.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the bus may have been carrying more than 103 pupils and 13 teachers during the excursion. The figures are said to have originated from records at Noah’s Ark Restaurant, where the group reportedly stopped for lunch before proceeding to Sipi Falls.

Authorities have not yet verified these passenger numbers, and investigators are expected to establish the exact number of occupants as part of the official inquiry.

Third School Bus Crash in Less Than a Week

The Kapchorwa tragedy comes amid growing concern over a series of serious road crashes involving school buses.

It is the third reported school-related bus accident within six days.

Last week, a bus carrying students of Mwebaze High School from Kakiri collided with a train along the Mukono–Katosi Road, killing two people, including a student and the school matron.

Earlier this week, another bus belonging to Amuria High School and transporting students of St. Paul S.S.S Katakwi crashed into a stationary truck along Tirinyi Road, killing the driver and injuring at least 15 students.

The succession of fatal crashes has renewed debate over road safety standards, vehicle inspection, and the regulation of school trips.

Education Ministry Suspends School Tours

In response to the increasing number of school transport accidents, Minister of State for Higher Education Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo has announced a temporary suspension of school-organized educational tours.

The suspension will remain in effect as investigations are conducted jointly by the Uganda Police Force and the Ministry of Works and Transport into the recent crashes involving schoolchildren.

Authorities are expected to review safety procedures governing school travel before organized trips resume.

Anxiety and Grief Grip King David Primary School

Meanwhile, emotions ran high at King David Primary School in Ndejje on Friday as distressed parents and residents gathered outside the school seeking information about their children.

Many families arrived hoping to confirm whether their children had survived the crash, while others searched for updates on relatives who remained unaccounted for.

The accident claimed the life of the school’s founder and director, Tadeo Ssekadde, who was among those killed.

Police, supported by personnel from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), were deployed to secure the school after some parents reportedly attempted to force their way into the premises overnight in search of answers.

By 9:00 a.m., the school gates remained closed as meetings continued inside involving school administrators, police officers and local leaders.

Despite repeated appeals from security personnel for calm, many parents refused to leave the school compound.

Some reportedly spent the entire night outside the school waiting for official confirmation regarding survivors, those receiving treatment and those who had lost their lives.

As investigators continue gathering evidence, families, education officials and the wider public are awaiting the findings of the official investigation, which is expected to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, overloading, or other factors contributed to one of Uganda’s worst school transport tragedies in recent years.