A teacher has died and dozens of students sustained injuries after a passenger train collided with a school bus at the Namumira railway crossing in Mukono Municipality, Uganda.
The accident occurred at about 6:00 a.m. on Friday as a Friendship Company bus carrying more than 70 students of Mwebaza High School was travelling to Jinja for an educational excursion. The bus was struck by a passenger train travelling from Mukono to Kampala while attempting to cross the railway line, causing it to overturn.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, while critically injured students were taken to Mukono General Hospital for treatment.
Uganda Railways spokesperson John Lenon Sengendo confirmed that one adult, a teacher, died in the crash.
According to preliminary investigations, the bus driver allegedly ignored instructions from a police officer stationed near the railway crossing and drove onto the tracks despite repeated warnings.
Sengendo said the train crew continuously sounded the horn as it approached the crossing, but the bus failed to stop before entering the railway line.
Witnesses said the number of injured students overwhelmed available emergency services, forcing first responders to transport several victims to hospital on motorcycles due to a shortage of ambulances.
Some residents blamed the accident on poor safety infrastructure at the crossing, citing the absence of automatic barriers, traffic lights and adequate warning signs. They also alleged that trucks parked near the crossing obstruct motorists’ visibility, increasing the risk of accidents.
Another eyewitness suggested the bus driver may not have heard the train’s warning horn because students were singing and loud music was playing inside the vehicle.
Uganda Railways urged motorists, particularly drivers of public service vehicles, to obey traffic regulations and comply with instructions from police officers and railway officials at level crossings.
The agency also disclosed that it is installing automated barriers at busy railway crossings across the country to improve safety, while stressing that responsible driving remains essential to preventing similar tragedies.
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