Seventy-three students of Lubiri High School narrowly escaped a potentially serious road crash on Saturday after the bus transporting them lost control while descending Mengo Hill towards Cornerstone Plaza in Rubaga.
The students were travelling aboard bus UAQ 079W, operated by Jeju Express Bus Company, for a study tour at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Show Grounds in Lugogo when the incident occurred.
According to Uganda Police spokesperson in the Directorate of Traffic & Road Safety, Michael Kananura, the situation could have ended differently were it not for the quick intervention of members of the public around Cornerstone Plaza.
Kananura said the bus reportedly lost control, prompting the conductor to alert people nearby. Members of the public then intervened and helped bring the bus to a stop by placing stones under its path.
Police said no injuries were recorded.
The incident, however, exposed a string of safety violations involving the bus and the school trip.
Police found that the bus had an expired Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence, lacked clearance from the Ministry of Education and Sports, did not have third-party insurance and had not undergone the required inspection by the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Police also said the bus was carrying more learners than its licensed capacity. Kananura’s statement put the number of students at 73 against a capacity of 67.
A report by Daily Monitor separately said preliminary police investigations found 72 occupants aboard the vehicle and reported that the bus had severely worn tyres, further raising concerns about its roadworthiness.
The driver, conductor and school patron have been detained to assist with investigations, while police are also obtaining a statement from the school’s head teacher.
The incident comes just months after government introduced tighter controls on school trips following the deadly King David Junior School bus crash in Kapchorwa in July 2026.
The Kapchorwa crash, which occurred while learners were returning from a study tour to Sipi Falls, killed at least 21 people, including pupils and school staff. Police subsequently said the Ministry of Education and Sports had directed the suspension of school trips as government reviewed safety measures.
The government later announced tougher requirements for school excursions, including advance approval of trips, route planning and stricter requirements for buses and drivers. The updated rules require school buses to have valid PSV licences and school-trip permits, among other safety requirements.
Uganda’s 2025 Ministry of Education guidelines already require schools organising trips to assess the safety of proposed destinations, ensure vehicles are mechanically sound and do not exceed their licensed passenger capacity. Schools are also required to notify police about the destination, number of learners, mode of transport and details of the teacher responsible for the trip.
The latest incident therefore raises fresh questions about how effectively the rules are being enforced and how a school bus carrying dozens of learners was allowed to begin a trip despite the alleged absence of key licences, insurance, inspection and education clearance.
Police have urged schools to comply with all requirements governing student transportation, stressing that learner safety must take precedence over convenience.
The Lubiri incident also highlights the continuing importance of public vigilance on Kampala’s busy roads, with police crediting residents for intervening before the runaway bus could cause injuries or fatalities.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
