The vehicle was loaded with over 70 students from Ngoma Secondary School, Budaka District. Samuel Semewo, the Bukedi North region police spokesperson, says that the students were returning from a handover ceremony at Ngoma SS in Kachomo Town Council on Sunday evening.
It is alleged that the headteacher, Fred Mayanja, had recklessly loaded over 70 students onto the truck to attend the ceremony. On their return, the vehicle developed brake failure, reversed, and overturned, critically injuring around 60 students.
Seven of the students were critically injured and rushed to Mbale Referral Hospital, while the others received treatment at Budaka Health Center IV. The driver fled the scene after the accident. According to Semewo, the truck was in poor mechanical condition and unable to safely carry such a heavy load of passengers.
Police responded to the scene, evacuated the injured students, and towed the vehicle to the Budaka police parking yard for further inspection by the Inspector of Vehicles (IOV). Inquiries are ongoing, and updates will follow as the investigation progresses.