KAMPALA, Uganda — Survivors of the deadly school bus crash in Kapchorwa have returned to Kampala as authorities begin the process of identifying pupils and reuniting them with their families.
The first group of survivors from King David Junior School arrived at the Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council headquarters on Friday evening after being evacuated from Kapchorwa by the Uganda Police Force.
The pupils and several teachers arrived aboard two buses at about 7:15 p.m., accompanied by a convoy of vehicles and escorted by police patrol trucks.
The crash occurred at about 10:00 p.m. on Thursday during a school study tour to tourist attractions, including Sipi Falls in Kapchorwa District.
Police records on Friday evening put the death toll at 21 people, including 15 pupils. Among those reported dead were the school’s proprietor, Tadeo Ssekadde, and five teachers.
Parents to undergo verification process
Uganda Police Force liaison officer Dr Aisha Namale Kayongo said authorities had established an organised verification process before survivors are released to their families.
Parents and guardians will be required to sign forms and provide proof of parenthood or guardianship before taking the children home.
The process is also expected to help authorities establish the exact number of passengers who were aboard the bus by reconciling the number of survivors with the confirmed fatalities.
“We have prepared forms that parents will sign before taking their children home. This process is intended to ensure order and accountability,” Kayongo said.
She urged families to remain calm as authorities continue verifying the identities of both survivors and those who died in the crash.
Survivors and families to receive counselling
Authorities said many families were experiencing severe emotional distress following the tragedy.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has deployed counsellors to provide psychosocial support to grieving families and survivors.
Kayongo said both the children who survived and their parents would require continued counselling and therapy in the coming days.
Some of the pupils are reportedly from South Sudan and Tanzania, prompting volunteers to assist with interpretation and communication during the identification and evacuation process.
The survivors were received at the municipal headquarters because the school compound was considered too small to accommodate the large number of anxious parents, relatives and well-wishers seeking information.
Security remained deployed at the school to maintain order and ensure that accurate information was communicated to the public.
The Uganda Police Force, medical teams and Uganda Red Cross personnel have been commended for their response to the fatal Kapchorwa school bus accident.
The investigation into the cause of the crash and the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy is ongoing.
