UNICEF calls for safer school travel after bus tragedy

UNICEF has called for stronger measures to protect children on Uganda’s roads following the recent school bus crash in Kapchorwa that killed about 26 people, most of them pupils returning from an educational trip.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, UNICEF Representative to Uganda Dr Robin Nandy described the deaths as “preventable” and urged authorities, schools and communities to do more to ensure children can travel safely to and from school. 

The victims were pupils and staff of King David Junior School, who were travelling back from visits to tourist attractions, including Sipi Falls, when their bus crashed in Kapchorwa.

According to the statement, those who died included 21 pupils and five members of staff, among them the school’s director, Tadeo Ssekadde. 

“On behalf of UNICEF, I extend heartfelt condolences to the families, classmates and communities affected. No parent should send a child to school and never see them return home,” Nandy said. 

The tragedy has renewed attention on the safety of school transport, particularly during educational trips that require children to travel long distances.

UNICEF said every child has the right to travel to school and return home safely, describing road safety not only as a transport issue but also as a children’s rights issue because it directly affects children’s survival, education and their right to a safe environment. 

The agency welcomed steps already taken by the Ugandan government following the crash. These include increased enforcement of traffic regulations and action by the Ministry of Education and Sports, which suspended all school trips while strengthening guidelines governing school travel. 

Under those measures, schools have been reminded to use only roadworthy and licensed vehicles driven by qualified, well-rested drivers.

They are also expected to carry out proper risk assessments before journeys and ensure teachers adequately supervise pupils throughout school trips. A risk assessment is a process of identifying potential dangers before travel and taking steps to reduce them. 

However, UNICEF said those measures alone are not enough. The organisation called for additional action to reduce speeding near schools, improve pedestrian crossings and safe walking routes, and strengthen emergency medical care for crash victims. 

The statement also placed Uganda’s recent tragedy in a wider global context. According to UNICEF, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents aged between five and 19 years worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries carrying the greatest burden.

The agency noted that vehicle speed can determine whether a child survives a crash, saying a child struck by a vehicle travelling at 30 kilometres per hour has a much greater chance of survival than one hit at 50 kilometres per hour. 

Nandy described every child killed on Uganda’s roads as “one too many.”

“These are preventable deaths, and every child lost on Uganda’s roads is one too many,” he said. 

The statement signals continued pressure for tighter road safety measures as investigations into the Kapchorwa crash continue and the government reviews school transport rules aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future.