By At least 40 students from Kirewa Senior Secondary School in Tororo District are nursing injuries following a serious road accident that occurred while they were being transported to a patriotism pass-out event.
The accident happened near Nagongera Town Council along the Nagongera–Busolwe road when the overloaded Isuzu truck (registration number UBF 785R) they were traveling in failed to navigate a sharp bend and overturned. The truck was reportedly carrying more than 120 students from Senior One to Senior Three, far beyond its capacity.
Peter Okello, one of the survivors, described the terrifying moment:
“We were inside the truck, over 120 of us. When we reached a sharp bend, the driver failed to control the vehicle and we fell into a huge hole.”
Several students sustained serious injuries, particularly to their heads, backs, and legs.
The students were headed to Mahanga Senior Secondary School for a joint patriotism pass-out ceremony for West Budama North and North East constituencies, which was expected to draw over 1,000 students.
Concerns had reportedly been raised before departure. Tereza Achar, a Senior Three student, said she objected to boarding the overcrowded truck but was ignored. “I was refusing to board the truck since it was full, but teachers insisted. They didn’t listen to us,” she said.
The aftermath of the crash revealed glaring gaps in emergency healthcare. Tororo Hospital, where many of the victims were taken, was overwhelmed. The hospital’s X-ray machine was non-functional, hampering efforts to properly assess injuries. An ambulance donated by the Machika Foundation was still transporting students from Nagongera Health Centre IV to other facilities for better care.
Richard Machika, director of the Machika Foundation, stepped in to pay for the students’ X-rays at a nearby private health facility.
“How can a whole hospital not have a functioning X-ray? And how can a big government school still use trucks to ferry students? This must change,” he said, adding that such issues would be central to his agenda if elected to Parliament.
Tororo District Chairperson John Okea condemned the school’s decision to transport students using a truck, vowing that those responsible would be held accountable. “Trucks are not allowed to carry students. Learners are not sand or bricks. We must eliminate this practice from our district,” Okea emphasized.
District Traffic Officer Aisati Nandutu confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are underway. She warned that legal action would be taken if school officials are found culpable.
