Tragic bus accident claims 21 lives in Uganda

A devastating bus accident in eastern Uganda has claimed the lives of 21 people, including 20 students from King David Junior School and the school’s founder and headmaster, Tadeo Ssekade. The tragedy occurred late Thursday night, July 16, 2026, at Chekwatit in Kawowo, Kapchorwa District. The students were returning from a school trip to Sipi Falls when the bus crashed.

Uganda’s Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, confirmed that survivors were rushed to hospitals across the region. Nine critically injured students are being treated at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.

Sixteen others are at Kaserem Health Centre. Three are at Bulambuli Health Centre. Additional victims are receiving care at Kapchorwa Hospital.

Local residents of Tingey County and Kaserem, alongside emergency responders, played a crucial role in rescuing survivors from the wreckage.

The death of Headmaster Tadeo Ssekade is a profound blow to the school community. Leaders described the tragedy as a major loss not only to King David Junior School but also to Uganda’s education sector.

Authorities cited speeding, reckless driving, and disregard for traffic laws as major causes of such accidents. The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of road safety measures, including the use of modern technology to monitor drivers and reduce preventable crashes.