Death toll from Uganda school bus crash rises to 24

What the report says

Al Jazeera English, citing AFP, reported on July 18, 2026, that the death toll from a school bus crash in eastern Uganda has risen to 24 after three more pupils died from their injuries. Police said the fatalities now include 23 children and one adult following the crash involving a King David Junior School bus.

According to the report, the bus was carrying pupils and teachers from the Kampala school back from a trip to Sipi Falls on Thursday night when it crashed at Chekwatit village in Kapchorwa district. Police investigators said the driver lost control, causing the bus to overturn and strike a large stone. Six of those killed had not yet been identified, and the adult victim was believed to be the school’s founder and head.

Al Jazeera reported that dozens of injured children were taken to hospitals, with 23 still receiving care at Kapchorwa General Hospital. Police said three other vehicles that were part of the same school trip made it back safely. Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports responded on Friday by suspending school trips nationwide while authorities investigate recent crashes involving schoolchildren.

Police also said escorts would be arranged to help learners return safely to their schools. The crash adds to concerns about road safety in Uganda, where serious collisions are frequently linked to speeding, poor road conditions and vehicle maintenance problems. Al Jazeera noted two other deadly incidents this month and last October, including a bus-truck crash in northern Uganda and a separate collision between two buses on a major highway.