Student dies, 41 injured in Budaka school truck crash

BUDAKA - A senior two student of Iki-Iki Senior Secondary School, in Budaka district, is reported to have died in a nasty lorry crash that occurred on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at JamI, commonly known as Mayiro mwenda in Budaka district, along Mbale-Tirinyi road.

Speaking to New Vision Online, the Bukedi North regional Police spokesperson, Wilfred Kyempasa, said several students are among the severely injured.

Admitted to several hospitals are 38 students, a cook and two school guards. Kyempasa identified the deceased student as Linda Babirye, 17, a resident of Kadenghe village, Iki-Iki Sub-county, in Budaka district.

“Our preliminary investigations indicate that at the time of the accident, the students were loaded on the Isuzu-Elf truck registration number UAP 443Z, heading to Jami Seed Secondary School for games,” he said.

Witnesses narrate that the crash occurred while the driver was joining the main road from the feeder road.

The truck (Pictured) is currently stationed at Budaka Police pending inspection. (Courtesy Photo)

Police said the truck driver, Ahamada Mutamu, is detained at Budaka Police station to help with investigations vide case file BDK TAR 20/26.

The truck is currently stationed at Budaka Police pending inspection.

In 2021, the Ministry of Education and Sports moved to implement a 10-year-old guideline, which, among others, bans the transportation of students on lorries.

The guidelines, which aimed to curbing accidents that had in the past claimed lives of many students, also prohibited vehicles from carrying students beyond 8:00pm.