One Dead, 15 Injured as School Bus Crashes Into Stationary Trailer

A school field trip turned tragic on Tuesday morning after a bus carrying dozens of secondary school students collided with a stationary trailer along the Mbale–Iganga Highway, leaving the driver dead and 15 passengers injured.

The fatal crash occurred at about 4:45 a.m. in Nawangisa Village, Bugweri District, when an Isuzu bus, registration number UA 551ED, slammed into the rear of a parked Mercedes-Benz Actros trailer, registration number UBB 269V.

The bus, owned by Amuria High School, was transporting 73 students from St. Paul Secondary School in Katakwi District to Kasenyi Landing Site in Entebbe for a geography field study at the time of the accident.

The driver, identified as Abdallah Kasakya, 68, died instantly at the scene.

Busoga East Regional Police spokesperson ASP Michael Kasadha confirmed the incident, saying 15 occupants sustained injuries and were rushed to Iganga General Hospital for treatment.

Those injured include students Joseph Iraat, Emmanuel Obweikal, Samuel Martin Opio, John Martin Ingirot, Simon Emodit, Samuel Aanyu, Jeremiah Oumo, Silver Okurut, Isaac Alibet, Samuel Oila, Timothy Okot, John Mark Ocen and Perez Nyasurura. Also injured were teacher George Oluga and the bus conductor, whose identity had not yet been confirmed.

Traffic police officers led by the Regional Traffic Officer visited the crash scene to document evidence and begin investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The body of the deceased driver was taken to the Iganga General Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Meanwhile, both the damaged school bus and the trailer were towed to Busembatya Police Station, where they will undergo mechanical inspection as investigators work to establish the exact cause of the crash.

Police have appealed to motorists to remain vigilant while driving, particularly during the early morning hours, and to observe road safety measures to reduce the risk of similar accidents.