By Robert Segawa
The Acting Minister for Education and Sports, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, has ordered the closure of King David Junior School, Ndejje, for two weeks to allow pupils, parents, and staff to recover from the trauma caused by last week’s fatal road accident.
Dr. Muyingo made the announcement during his visit to the school on Friday, where he condoled with bereaved families and assured them of the government’s support as they grieve.
The decision follows Thursday’s tragic accident in Kapchorwa District, where a bus belonging to King David Junior School overturned while returning from an educational tour to Sipi Falls. The crash claimed the lives of 21 people, including 20 pupils and the school’s proprietor, Tadeo Ssekadde, while dozens of others sustained injuries.
Speaking at the school, Dr. Muyingo revealed that King David Junior School has an enrollment of about 936 pupils. Of these, 217 pupils participated in the educational trip using four trucks and one bus. The bus involved in the accident was carrying 107 pupils at the time of the crash.
He also directed local leaders, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Makindye-Ssabagabo and the Mayor of Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality, to constitute a committee to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and recommend measures to improve the safety of learners during school travel.
According to preliminary findings, parents paid Shs230,000 for the three-day educational tour to Sipi Falls. While returning from the trip, the driver reportedly lost control of the bus, causing it to veer off the road, strike a large roadside rock, and overturn.
“We have agreed to close the school for the next two weeks to allow the pupils, parents, and staff to undergo counseling following this tragic accident that claimed the lives of our beloved children,” Dr. Muyingo said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Sports has suspended all school tours across Uganda with immediate effect following a series of fatal road accidents involving learners during educational trips.
Dr. Muyingo said the suspension will remain in force until further notice as the government reviews and strengthens safety measures governing school travel. He urged all schools to strictly comply with the directive while the review is underway.
