By Eumu Emmanuel
Mbale District — At least 60 people were injured in a serious accident along the Mbale-Tirinyi Highway on Sunday, September 22, 2024. The incident involved a truck transporting students from Ngoma Standard Secondary School in Bukaka District.
The blue Isuzu Elf truck, registration number UAS 317S, was carrying 70 students and five teachers when it crashed near Nabweyo village. Seven students who sustained critical injuries were rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for specialized care, while others were treated at Bukaka Health Centre IV.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the truck experienced mechanical failure, causing it to roll backward and overturn on a steep hill. According to traffic police, the vehicle was in a dangerous mechanical condition (DMC) and unsuitable for carrying such a large number of passengers. The driver fled the scene and remains at large.
Authorities have expressed grave concerns over the unsafe transportation of students in overloaded and poorly maintained vehicles. The Ministry of Education and law enforcement officials are urging schools and parents to prioritize student safety by ensuring proper transportation arrangements.
This accident adds to growing concerns in the region, as a similar incident in Kenya recently claimed the lives of six students along the Kitui Highway. The authorities are now calling for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety standards to prevent future tragedies.
