VANICE MIREMBE DAWA: School study trips are not deadly, reckless driving is

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion article on 29 July 2026 by Vanice Mirembe Dawa, identified as Assistant Commissioner for Conservation Education and Awareness at the Uganda Wildlife Authority, responding to debate after recent road tragedies linked to school study tours. Dawa argues that educational trips should not be restricted or banned because of crashes, saying the central problem is unsafe road conduct, weak discipline and inadequate safeguards during school travel.

The commentary says study tours remain important to learning because they connect classroom lessons with practical exposure to Uganda’s wildlife, culture, history, industries and research institutions. Instead of stopping excursions, Dawa urges government and relevant authorities to enforce stronger safety rules for school journeys, including checks on vehicle condition, driver competence and rest, speed control and pre-trip inspections, with consequences for operators who put learners at risk.

Dawa also advises schools to reduce unnecessary long-distance travel by making greater use of educational resources within their own regions or nearby districts. The article notes that localised trips can cut costs and risks while helping learners understand their immediate environment.

In the piece, Dawa says UWA is supporting conservation education through centres that host learners, including the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre and the Mbale Wildlife Conservation Education Centre. She adds that UWA plans additional regional centres in Mbarara, Kyenjojo and Gulu to expand access to environmental learning. The argument matters because it frames the public response to school-trip accidents around transport safety and regional learning infrastructure, rather than removing excursions from school programmes.