A school tour meant to be full of joy has ended in tragedy and now every school trip across Uganda is on hold.

In a truly heartbreaking incident, Uganda has suspended all school trips after a terrible bus crash claimed the lives of at least 20 pupils and one adult on Thursday evening.

According to cbinews.tv, dozens of others including staff members were injured in the accident in Kapchorwa district in eastern Uganda.

The pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje were returning from an educational tour. Local reports say they had visited Sipi Falls when disaster struck at about 8 pm local time in Chekwatit village.

Preliminary findings point to a mechanical fault. Traffic police spokesman Michael Kananura explained that the driver lost control on Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road known for serious crashes.

He said the vehicle veered off the road, hit a large stone by the roadside and overturned.

The bus was left badly damaged. Videos shared by eyewitnesses showed local residents rushing to help the injured children.

Local Government Minister Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara who was at the scene posted on X that 20 children and the founder and director Mr Tadeo Ssekade had died.

It is one of the deadliest crashes involving children that Uganda has seen in recent times, in a country that records thousands of road deaths each year linked to speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous roads.

Announcing the immediate ban, Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo said as a precautionary measure government must act to protect children.

He added that the nation has suffered a great loss and called for joint efforts to care for the survivors.

The suspension will remain until a full investigation is complete. The crash comes amid renewed concern over school transport safety after several serious bus accidents in recent weeks.

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