MUKONO, Uganda — A school excursion turned tragic on Friday morning after a bus transporting students and teachers from Mwebaze High School collided with a Uganda Railways train at a railway crossing in Mukono District, killing the wife of the school’s head teacher and leaving several passengers injured.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:46 a.m. at Namumira Village in Mukono District, involving a Friendship Coaches bus, registration number UAU 123Q, and a train operated by Uganda Railways Corporation (URC).
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala, preliminary investigations indicate that the bus was carrying students and staff from Mwebaze High School in Bakka, Kakiri, Wakiso District, who were travelling to Jinja for an educational study tour.
Police estimate that nearly 100 people were on board at the time of the crash, including students, teachers, and accompanying adults.
Head teacher’s wife dies at scene
Authorities confirmed that one adult female passenger, identified as the wife of the school’s head teacher, died instantly following the collision.
Several students and teachers sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious and were rushed to Mukono General Referral Hospital and other nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Emergency responders, police officers, and health workers spent hours coordinating rescue efforts and evacuating victims from the scene.
Police point to speeding and failure to stop
Early findings suggest the bus driver may have ignored mandatory railway crossing procedures.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the bus was travelling at a high speed and failed to stop at the designated railway crossing as required by traffic regulations before attempting to cross the railway line,” SP Kawala said.
“It is alleged that the bus entered the crossing, collided with the oncoming train, and subsequently veered off the road,” she added.
Under Uganda’s traffic regulations, motorists approaching railway crossings are required to slow down, stop where necessary, and ensure the track is clear before proceeding.
Road safety experts have repeatedly identified non-compliance with railway crossing rules as a major contributor to train-related accidents in the country.
Driver flees scene
Police revealed that the driver abandoned the scene immediately after the collision and remains at large.
“The driver is still at large, and efforts to identify and apprehend him are ongoing,” Kawala said.
Investigators are currently recording witness statements, examining the damaged vehicle, and gathering additional evidence to establish the precise sequence of events.
The driver’s decision to flee could potentially attract additional criminal charges depending on the outcome of the investigation.
Railway crossing safety under scrutiny
The crash has once again drawn attention to safety concerns at railway crossings across Uganda, particularly along busy transport corridors where road traffic frequently intersects with railway lines.
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Transport safety analysts note that collisions involving trains are often severe because of the inability of locomotives to stop quickly once they are in motion.
The incident also raises fresh questions about compliance with road safety standards for buses transporting students, especially during long-distance educational trips.
Investigations continue
Police said efforts are underway to verify the identities of all victims and determine whether additional factors may have contributed to the collision.
“We are conducting comprehensive investigations to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and to ensure that all those responsible are held accountable,” SP Kawala said.
By Friday afternoon, police officers remained at the scene while medical personnel continued attending to the injured at various health facilities.
The accident is among the most serious school transport incidents reported in Uganda this year and is likely to intensify calls for stricter enforcement of railway crossing regulations and school transport safety standards.
