The president of the Uganda Law Society, Isaac Ssemakadde, has issued a strong statement following a deadly road accident involving pupils from King David Junior School, Ndejje, terming the incident “devastating” and a sign of systemic failure.
More than 20 pupils are feared dead after their school bus crashed at Chekwatit in Kapchorwa District on Thursday evening.
The bus, registration UA 108BQ, was transporting children back from an educational tour of Sipi Falls when it was involved in the fatal accident at around 8pm.
Emergency responders remained at the scene as rescue efforts continued, with early reports describing a harrowing situation.
Survivors were rushed to nearby health facilities, while authorities began preliminary investigations into the cause of the crash.
In his statement, Ssemakadde expressed deep concern over the tragedy, emphasizing the vulnerability of school children during travel.
He said the victims were returning from a learning activity, underscoring the painful irony of a trip meant to enrich their education ending in loss of life.
“My thoughts are with the families, the school community, and the first responders dealing with this unimaginable tragedy,” he said.
The ULS president further warned that the incident reflects a broader pattern of negligence on Uganda’s roads.
He noted that the Kapchorwa crash is the third major school transport accident reported within a week, raising urgent questions about enforcement of road safety regulations.
Ssemakadde called for accountability from relevant authorities, urging immediate action to address what he described as recklessness in the transport sector.
He stressed the need for stricter vehicle inspections, better driver oversight, and enhanced safety protocols for school trips.