What began as a bright Sunday morning filled with songs and excitement turned devastating when a school bus carrying pupils from Star Junior School in Makindye overturned along the Mityana Road, killing at least two children and injuring several others.
The pupils had spent the day on an educational excursion a common weekend tradition meant to complement their classroom learning. But as the yellow HMK bus (registration UAP 829U) made its journey home, something went terribly wrong.
Near Zigoti Town Council, the bus veered off the road and flipped multiple times. By the time it stopped, twisted metal and scattered school bags marked the site of what had become a disaster.
Witnesses say they heard tires screeching then silence, followed by screams. “The bus was swaying. Then it lost balance and started rolling. Children were crying and flying out,” said James Mbabazi, a mechanic who was working nearby and rushed to help.
Local Good Samaritans, boda riders, and market vendors were the first to arrive, pulling children from the wreckage before emergency responders reached the scene.
“We did what we could. Some kids were still breathing, some weren’t moving,” another witness recounted, visibly shaken.
Police and ambulances soon joined the effort. The injured were rushed to Mityana General Hospital, though authorities have not yet confirmed the total number or condition of those hurt.
A police spokesperson confirmed that investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. “We are looking into all possibilities from mechanical failure to human error. No conclusions can be made at this time,” the officer stated.
The bus’s wreckage has been towed to a secure location as part of the forensic process. For many, the tragedy has reignited concerns about the safety of school transportation, especially during extracurricular trips.
