At least 20 schoolchildren and the founder of their school died on Thursday evening when a bus carrying them back from an educational trip veered off a road in eastern Uganda and overturned. The crash occurred near Chekwatit village in Kapchorwa district, according to Ugandan police, as the vehicle from King David Junior School in the capital, Kampala, was returning from a visit to the Sipi Falls tourist area.

Police said the driver lost control, causing the bus to leave the road, strike a large stone and overturn. The adult killed was identified by the minister of local government, Balaam Ateenyi Barugahara, as Tadeo Ssekade, the school’s founder and director. The police statement confirmed that three adult males and several juveniles sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals in Kapchorwa and Mbale, though other local officials described dozens of injured, including school staff.

Preliminary accounts from local authorities point to a possible mechanical fault on Chekwatit Hill, a stretch of road that has seen several serious crashes, but police have not yet confirmed any technical failure. The driver’s identity has not been released, and the exact sequence of events remains under investigation. The number of injured beyond the police’s “several juveniles” is still being clarified by medical sources.

Uganda records thousands of road deaths each year, with speeding, poorly maintained vehicles and dangerous roads among the leading causes cited by traffic authorities. In response to the crash, Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo announced an immediate suspension of all school educational trips, describing it as a precautionary measure until a full investigation is completed. Police said inquiries are ongoing and have extended condolences to the families.