Truck carrying over 120 students overturns in Tororo

________________

At least 40 students from Kirewa Secondary School were critically injured when a truck overturned on Tuesday, April 8, on Nagongera Road in Tororo district.

The incident occurred at Sesera village and involved a blue Isuzu truck, registration number UBF 785R, which was transporting over 120 students back to school. The students had earlier participated in a patriotism pass-out ceremony at Mahanga Secondary School, where 1,034 students had been commissioned.

Eyewitness accounts described the scene as harrowing.

“We were over 120 of us in the truck. When we got near Sesera Girls’ School, the driver went to the edge of the slippery road—that's how the truck overturned, and many of us were injured,” said Okwir Andrew, a Senior One student at Kirewa.

Another student, Tereza Achar, added: “Many of us are hurt, but thank God no one has died.”

The injured students were rushed to Nagongera Health Centre IV and Tororo General Hospital for treatment. Sixteen of them are in critical condition and are awaiting X-ray examinations to determine the extent of their injuries and the required treatment.

These include Grace Ayo, Tereza Awino, Mary Athieno, Jane Akoth, Evelyne Acheing, Prossy Akoth, Christine Nyadoi, Jane Apio, Merccy Apoya, Simon Peter Okumu, Brian Geno Were, John Paul Oketcho, Lawrence Ocheing, Chris Okello, and Mary Acheing.

Tororo district traffic officer, Aisati Nandutu, confirmed the incident and noted that investigations into the cause of the crash are underway.

District leaders have condemned the school administration for using a truck to transport such a large number of students.

“The headteacher made a serious error. The law prohibits transporting students in trucks, and we will address this with the school,” said John Okea, the district chairperson.

Richard Owere Machika, director of the Machika Foundation, also called for urgent action to prevent such tragedies, pointing to a worrying pattern.

“This culture of using trucks to carry large groups of people is unfortunately common in our district,” he said. “Unfortunately, a similar accident involving a truck happened in the same area recently.”

The accident has sent shockwaves through the community and sparked serious concerns about the safety of school transportation practices.