President Yoweri Museveni has extended financial support to families affected by the deadly King David Junior School, Ndejje, bus crash, with each family that lost a child set to receive Shs5 million, while every injured victim will receive Shs1 million.
The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Refugees, Lillian Aber, who conveyed the President’s condolences to the bereaved families and the school community.
“We are comforted by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s compassionate support of Shs5 million for each bereaved family and Shs1 million for every injured victim. May God grant them strength,” Aber said.
At least 24 people died in Thursday evening’s crash involving a bus transporting pupils of King David Junior School, Ndejje, from a study trip in Kapchorwa District.
According to the Uganda Police Force, 24 fatalities have so far been confirmed. Of these, 18 bodies have been positively identified, while three unidentified bodies remain at Kapchorwa Hospital and three others are at Mbale Hospital.
Police also said that 23 victims remain admitted to Kapchorwa Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. All surviving pupils who did not require hospital admission safely returned to Kampala aboard a Gateway Bus.
The driver of the ill-fated bus has not yet been formally identified, although police believe he sustained critical injuries and is among those receiving treatment in Mbale.
The school trip departed Kampala at about 5:00 a.m. using two buses and two taxis. The other vehicles, which were not involved in the crash, safely returned to Kampala with all their occupants.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Ministry of Education and Sports temporarily suspended all school trips nationwide and ordered the closure of King David Junior School, Ndejje, for two weeks.
Meanwhile, the process of identifying victims and handing over bodies to grieving families is still ongoing as authorities continue investigations into the cause of the crash.
