60 Injured As Lorry Ferrying 70 Students Overturns In Mbale

• On Sunday, September 22, a truck ferrying Ngoma Standard Secondary School students crashed along the Mbale-Tirinyi Highway
• According to the police report, the lorry was ferrying 70 students and five teachers when it overturned
• Authorities have expressed serious concerns about the unsafe transportation of students in overloaded vehicles

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Uganda - At least 60 people have been injured following a nasty accident along the Mbale-Tirinyi Highway.

The Observer reported that a truck ferrying Ngoma Standard Secondary School students in Budaka District crashed on Sunday, September 22.

How many teachers were involved in the Budaka lorry accident

The accident happened near Nabweyo village and it involved a blue Isuzu Elf truck, registration number UAS 317S, carrying 70 students and five teachers.

The students were returning from a school event held externally when the truck overturned, leaving several in critical condition.

Seven students who sustained critical injuries are undergoing specialised care at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, while others received treatment at Budaka Health Centre IV.

Preliminary investigations indicate the truck experienced brake failure, causing it to overturn after rolling backwards on a steep hill.

Traffic police officers said the lorry was in dangerous mechanical condition (DMC) and unsuitable for carrying such many passengers.

The driver fled the scene and remains at large.

Authorities have expressed serious concerns about the unsafe transportation of students in overloaded vehicles.

How 6 students were killed by Probox in Kitui

Back in Kenya, six students died following a horrible accident along the Kitui-Kibwezi Road in Kitui county.

Ithitha Deputy County Commissioner Vincent Loctary Lomachary confirmed the morning accident on Friday, September 13, saying it happened at the Wiitu Shopping Centre.

Lomachary said the victims include three pupils from Kyaoni Primary School and three from Kyaoni Secondary. The authorities said five of the victims were girls.

According to the deputy county commissioner, the learners were knocked down by a Probox vehicle while crossing the road at 6.20am.

Lomachary said preliminary findings from the police showed that the Probox was speeding at the time of the accident.

The Probox driver fled the accident scene before later surrendering himself to Mutomo Police Station.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke