At least 20 pupils and a school director have died after a bus carrying children from King David Junior School crashed in Kapchorwa District.
Local Government minister Balaam Barugahara said several other children remained in hospital, with some in critical condition.
Barugahara visited the injured pupils following the crash.
He said nine children were in critical condition at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. Another 16 were receiving treatment at Kaserem Health Centre, while three were admitted to Bulambuli Health Centre IV.
Other injured pupils were taken to Kapchorwa Hospital.
Barugahara identified the adult victim as Tadeo Ssekade, the founder and director of the school.
“We extend our deepest condolences to their families, loved ones and the entire King David community,” he said.
He also prayed for the recovery of the injured children.
Police said the crash involved a school bus with registration number UA 108BQ. It was transporting pupils of King David Junior School in Ndejje.
The bus crashed at Chekwatit Village in Kimawa Parish, Kawowo Sub-county, at about 8pm.
Police had not released the cause of the crash by the time of publication.
Tingey County MP Fadhil Twalla called for an investigation into the condition of the bus and the driver’s actions.
Twalla said residents had warned the driver about suspected mechanical problems before the bus descended towards Chekwatit.
He said the crash could have been prevented if the warnings had been taken seriously.
“What hurts most is that this accident could have been avoided if the driver took warnings by locals seriously,” Twalla said.
He called on the Ministry of Works and Transport and law enforcement agencies to establish what caused the crash.
Twalla also urged the authorities to prosecute anyone found responsible.
