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School bus crash survivors return to Kampala; parents demand expedited identification
Without revealing the number or the condition of the victims, Kayongo, the UPF liaison officer, said the priority was to reunite survivors with their families. She added that proof of parenthood or guardianship will also be used to verify the exact number of passengers who had been on board before the fatal crash.
Kayongo, the UPF liaison officer, said the priority was to reunite survivors with their families.
By: Lawrence Mulondo, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - Aboard two buses, the first group of students who survived the Friday night fatal crash in Kapchorwa are scheduled to reunite with their parents on Friday night.
Evacuated by Uganda Police Force, the King David Junior School children and a few teachers arrived at the Makindye Ssabagabo Municipal Council headquarters at 7:15 pm. The convoy of about five vehicles was escorted by police patrol trucks.
Friday evening, police records put the death toll at 21, including 15 pupils. Among the deceased is the school's proprietor, Tadeo Ssekadde and five teachers .
The 10:00 pm crash occurred in Kapchorwa on Thursday during a school study tour to various sites, including Sipi Falls.
After receiving the first group, Uganda Police's Dr. Aisha Namale Kayongo, who was among security and Wakiso district local leaders and who received the children, revealed that an organised verification process would conduct before the children are reunited with families.
“We have prepared forms that parents will sign before taking their children home. This process is intended to ensure order and accountability,” she said. Kayongo also called for calm during verification of the victims' identities, including the dead.
She noted that many families were experiencing severe emotional distress following the tragedy and commended the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development for deploying counsellors to provide psychosocial support to grieving families and survivors.
Without revealing the number or the condition of the victims, Kayongo, the UPF liaison officer, said the priority was to reunite survivors with their families. She added that proof of parenthood or guardianship will also be used to verify the exact number of passengers who had been on board before the fatal crash.
She explained that officials would first establish the number of children who survived and reconcile that with the number of confirmed fatalities to determine the total number of passengers involved in the accident.
“We have prepared forms that parents will sign before taking their children home. This process is intended to ensure order and accountability,” she said. Kayongo also called for calm during verification of the victims' identities, including the dead.
She noted that many families were experiencing severe emotional distress following the tragedy and commended the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development for deploying counsellors to provide psychosocial support to grieving families and survivors.
Without revealing the number or the condition of the victims, Kayongo, the UPF liaison officer, said the priority was to reunite survivors with their families. She added that proof of parenthood or guardianship will also be used to verify the exact number of passengers who had been on board before the fatal crash.
She explained that officials would first establish the number of children who survived and reconcile that with the number of confirmed fatalities to determine the total number of passengers involved in the accident.
Kayongo said authorities decided to receive the survivors at the municipal headquarters, describing the school compound as too small to accommodate the large crowds of anxious parents, relatives and well-wishers seeking information.
She added that security had remained deployed at the school throughout the day to maintain order and ensure that accurate information reached the public.
Kayongo also acknowledged the support of faith leaders, political leaders and community members who had gathered to comfort those affected, saying their presence had provided much-needed encouragement.
She, however, stressed that both survivors and their parents would require continued counselling and therapy in the days ahead.
Revealing that some of the children hail from South Sudan and Tanzania, she thanked volunteers who assisted with interpretation in Arabic and other languages, thereby expediting the identification process and updating the parents about the evacuation processes.
Kayongo hailed the security agencies and medical teams, and Uganda Red Cross personnel for their swift response both at the crash scene in Kapchorwa and at the school.
She added that security had remained deployed at the school throughout the day to maintain order and ensure that accurate information reached the public.
Kayongo also acknowledged the support of faith leaders, political leaders and community members who had gathered to comfort those affected, saying their presence had provided much-needed encouragement.
She, however, stressed that both survivors and their parents would require continued counselling and therapy in the days ahead.
Revealing that some of the children hail from South Sudan and Tanzania, she thanked volunteers who assisted with interpretation in Arabic and other languages, thereby expediting the identification process and updating the parents about the evacuation processes.
Kayongo hailed the security agencies and medical teams, and Uganda Red Cross personnel for their swift response both at the crash scene in Kapchorwa and at the school.