One dead, Several school students injured in Mukono Train-Bus accident

By our reporter

A woman was killed and several students and teachers injured after a school bus carrying learners on a study tour collided with a train at a railway crossing in Mukono District on Friday morning.

The accident happened at around 6:46 a.m. in Namumira Village and involved a Friendship Coaches bus, registration number UAU 123Q, and a Uganda Railways train.

According to police, the bus had been hired by Mwebaze High School in Bakka, Kakiri, Wakiso District, to transport students and staff to Jinja for an educational trip. It is believed the vehicle was carrying about 100 passengers, mostly students and their supervisors.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the bus approached the railway crossing at high speed and failed to stop as required before attempting to cross the tracks. Police say the bus collided with the oncoming train and was forced off the road.

The deceased has been identified as the wife of the school’s head teacher, who died at the scene. Several other passengers sustained injuries and were taken to Mukono General Referral Hospital and nearby health facilities for treatment.

The bus driver reportedly fled immediately after the crash and remains on the run. Police have launched a manhunt while investigators continue collecting witness statements and other evidence.

Authorities are working to identify all the victims and establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. Investigations remain ongoing as police and emergency responders continue supporting the injured and their families.