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The government has suspended all school trips and educational excursions across Uganda with immediate effect following a fatal road crash involving pupils of King David Junior School in Makindye.
The announcement was made on Friday by acting Education minister Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo as grief continued to grip the school, which has since closed for two weeks to allow pupils, staff and families time to mourn.
“The ministry of Education and Sports is deeply saddened by the recent road accidents involving school trips,” Muyingo said before visiting the school. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a full and speedy recovery to all those who were injured.”
Muyingo said educational trips remain an important part of learning but stressed that they should never compromise the safety of children.
“As an immediate precautionary measure, all school trips and educational excursions are hereby suspended with immediate effect until further notice,” he announced.
The suspension will remain in force while the ministry reviews existing guidelines and introduces stronger safety measures governing school travel. Muyingo also directed the permanent secretary to urgently review all policies regulating school trips and educational excursions.
Schools have been reminded to strictly adhere to safety requirements, including using only licensed and roadworthy vehicles driven by qualified drivers with good safety records.
Other measures include conducting proper risk assessments, obtaining the necessary approvals, keeping parents fully informed, avoiding overnight travel, ensuring drivers are adequately rested and maintaining appropriate teacher-to-learner supervision throughout journeys.
The ministry of Education and Sports said it is working with the Uganda Police Force, the Ministry of Works and Transport and other relevant agencies to investigate the recent crashes and strengthen measures aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
At King David Junior School, the pain was evident as anxious parents gathered on Friday, with many still seeking information about their children. Some surrounded Muyingo upon his arrival, pleading for answers.
“First ban these school trips,” one distraught parent cried, accusing some school proprietors of putting children’s lives at risk.
The school’s director of studies later announced a two-week closure to allow learners, staff and families time to grieve and recover from the tragedy.
Even before the government’s decision, some parents had already begun withdrawing their children from school trips, citing growing concerns over safety following a series of road crashes involving learners.
The latest tragedy occurred on Thursday evening in Kapchorwa District, eastern Uganda, as pupils were returning from a study tour to Sipi Falls.
Preliminary reports indicate that the school bus developed mechanical problems during the journey. Other accounts have raised concerns that the vehicle may have been overloaded and was not roadworthy at the time of the crash.
Muyingo called on school proprietors, governing boards, headteachers, transport providers and parents to work together to ensure that the safety of learners remains the highest priority.
