At least 40 students from Kirewa Senior Secondary School in Tororo District are nursing serious injuries after the truck they were traveling in overturned on their way to a patriotism event. The students, all between Senior One and Three, were being transported in an overloaded Isuzu truck, registration number UBF 785R, when the driver reportedly lost control while navigating a sharp bend near Nagongera Town Council.

The accident occurred along the Nagongera-Busolwe road as the students were heading to Mahanga Senior Secondary School for a joint patriotism pass-out ceremony. The event, which was expected to host over 1,000 students, brought together learners from West Budama North and North East constituencies. Among the injured are Grace Ayo, Teteza Awino, Mary Athieno, Jane Akoth, Evelyn Achieng, Prossy Akoth, Christine Nyadoi, Jane Apio, Mercy Apoya, Simon Peter Okumu, Brian Geno Were, John Paul Oketch, Lawrence Ochieng, and Chris Okello.

Peter Okello, one of the survivors, described the terrifying moment the truck overturned. “We were inside the truck, over 120 of us. When we reached a sharp bend, the driver failed to control the vehicle, and we fell into a huge hole,” he said. Many students sustained injuries to their backs, heads, and legs, with some requiring urgent X-ray examinations. However, Tororo Hospital’s X-ray machine was not functioning, forcing medical workers to seek alternative solutions.

Tereza Achar, a Senior Three student, blamed the school administration for ignoring their safety concerns. “I was refusing to board the truck since it was full, but teachers insisted. They didn’t listen to us,” she said. Her statement highlights the ongoing issue of schools using unsafe transportation methods despite repeated warnings from authorities.

When the Nile Post visited Tororo Hospital, an ambulance donated by the Machika Foundation was still transporting injured students from Nagongera Health Centre IV for better treatment. Richard Machika, director of the foundation, stepped in to cover the costs of X-ray services at a nearby private facility. He expressed frustration over the lack of proper medical equipment at the hospital and the school’s reckless transportation choices.

“This is what I will fight for when I join Parliament. How can a whole hospital not have a functioning X-ray? And how can a big government school still use trucks to ferry students? This must change,” Machika said. His comments reflect growing public anger over the neglect of student safety and poor healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Tororo District Chairperson John Okea condemned the school’s decision to transport students in a truck, vowing to hold the administration accountable. “Trucks are not allowed to carry students. Learners are not sand or bricks. We must eliminate this practice from our district,” Okea said. He emphasized that such negligence would not be tolerated and called for stricter enforcement of transportation laws.

District Traffic Officer Aisati Nandutu confirmed the accident and stated that investigations are ongoing. She warned that if school officials are found responsible for overloading the vehicle or failing to follow safety regulations, they would face legal consequences.

This incident is not the first of its kind in West Budama, where students have previously been involved in similar accidents due to poor transportation arrangements. The recurring problem has put authorities under pressure to enforce stricter safety measures and ensure that schools comply with regulations.

As the injured students continue to receive treatment, questions remain about why such preventable accidents keep happening. Parents, activists, and local leaders are demanding immediate action to stop schools from using trucks and other unsafe vehicles to transport students. The accident has also reignited discussions about the need for better emergency medical services in rural areas, where hospitals often lack essential equipment.

For now, the focus remains on helping the injured students recover while authorities work to prevent future tragedies. The community hopes that this incident will finally push the government and school administrations to prioritize student safety and put an end to the dangerous practice of transporting children in trucks meant for goods. Until then, many fear that another accident could happen, with even more devastating consequences.