A tragic accident in the early hours of Sunday (August 3, 2025) morning has claimed the lives of two pupils and left eleven others injured after a school bus overturned at Kagavu, along the Mubende-Kampala Road in Zigoti, Mityana District.
The fatal crash occurred at approximately 5:30am involving a bus, registration number UAP 829U, operated by HMK Transporters Ltd.
The traffic police spokesperson Michael Kananura said the bus was returning from a school tour in Kasese, carrying pupils, four tour guides, and the head teacher of Day Star Primary School located in Makindye, Kampala.
According to preliminary reports, the driver is believed to have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the bus to lose control and overturn.
He said two pupils died instantly at the scene, while the injured, among them the head teacher and four tour guides, were rushed to nearby health facilities for emergency treatment.
This heartbreaking incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of school excursions, particularly those involving long-distance travel.
Kananura urged school administrators to take greater responsibility for the welfare of children during such trips.
Police have reiterated the need for strict adherence to safety guidelines, including avoiding late-night or early-morning return journeys after extensive travel, ensuring drivers are well-rested and sober, and verifying the mechanical soundness of all hired vehicles.
They also recommend working closely with the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV) to certify roadworthiness and conduct pre-trip alcohol testing for drivers.
“This was a preventable tragedy,” said a traffic police spokesperson. “Our children’s lives are too valuable to be left to chance.”
