Lubiri High School bus averts disaster on Mengo Hill

A potential disaster was narrowly avoided on Saturday morning when a school bus carrying more than 70 students from Lubiri High School experienced significant mechanical failure while descending Mengo Hill Road. The bus, identified by registration number UAQ 079W, was en route to an educational expo at the UMA Show Grounds when its brakes reportedly failed.

Eyewitnesses described a tense situation as the bus, unable to stop, continued its descent towards a busy roundabout. Alert residents and the bus conductor took immediate action, with the conductor seen exiting the moving vehicle to place objects under the wheels in an attempt to slow it down. Community members also joined in to help bring the bus to a safe halt.

Police were quickly on the scene and confirmed that no injuries or fatalities occurred. Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire reported that the driver, conductor, and a school patron were arrested and are assisting with investigations at Old Kampala Police Station.

Preliminary police findings revealed several critical safety lapses. The bus was found to be overloaded, carrying 72 occupants against its licensed capacity of 67. Furthermore, its Public Service Vehicle (PSV) license had expired nearly a year prior, and the vehicle’s tires were severely worn. The school also reportedly lacked the necessary clearance from the Ministry of Education for the excursion and a valid vehicle inspection certificate from the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Following the incident, students were temporarily accommodated at a nearby mosque before an alternative bus, escorted by police, transported them safely back to Lubiri High School. The incident has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations for school transport and increased parental scrutiny of school-hired vehicles.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/over-70-lubiri-high-school-students-narrowly-escape-crash-as-unroadworthy-bus-fails-on-mengo-hill—5618480