The Ministry of Works and Transport has confirmed investigations into a train-bus collision at a railway level crossing in Kyetume, Mukono District, that left one teacher dead and several students injured.
The crash occurred at about 6am on Friday at the Namumira railway crossing in Mukono Municipality when a passenger train travelling from Mukono to Kampala collided with a Friendship Company bus carrying more than 70 students of Mwebaza High School who were travelling to Jinja for a study trip.
The impact overturned the bus, leaving several students injured. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, with critically injured learners taken to Mukono General Hospital for treatment.
Allan Ssempebwa, the Ministry of Works and Transport spokesperson, said the incident is being investigated by the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) and the Uganda Police Force, with the ministry’s Rail Safety Division also deploying a team to support the process.
"The incident is currently being investigated by the Uganda Railways Corporation and the Uganda Police Force. The Ministry's Rail Safety Division is also deploying a team to the scene to support the ongoing investigations and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident," Ssempebwa said.
He said further details would be provided as more information becomes available.
The ministry urged road users to exercise caution when approaching railway crossings, reminding motorists to obey traffic signs and signals, slow down, remain alert and avoid distractions that could prevent them from identifying approaching trains.
"Always obey traffic signs and signals, slow down, remain alert, avoid distractions to be able to identify approaching trains before crossing the railway line," Ssempebwa said.
Uganda Railways Corporation spokesperson John Lenon Sengendo said preliminary findings indicate that the bus driver failed to comply with traffic instructions at the crossing.
Sengendo said a police officer stationed about 200 metres from the railway crossing had signalled the driver to stop, but the bus allegedly continued onto the railway line where it was struck by the train.
"The train crew repeatedly sounded the horn as it approached the crossing, but the bus continued onto the railway line," Sengendo said.
The train later resumed its journey to Kampala after emergency operations at the scene were completed.
A first responder, Abdul Ssali, said the number of injured students overwhelmed available emergency services, forcing some critically injured learners to be transported to hospital on boda bodas.
"All the critically injured students were rushed to hospital on boda bodas because the available ambulances were not enough," Ssali said.
Residents have raised concerns about safety measures at the crossing, saying it lacks adequate warning infrastructure, including automatic barriers and traffic lights.
They also accused DAKS Clearing and Forwarding Company of allowing trucks to park near the crossing, allegedly obstructing visibility for motorists approaching the railway line.
Eyewitness Joseph Kaweesi said students were singing and loud music was playing inside the bus as it approached the crossing, raising questions about whether the driver could hear the train’s warning horn.
Other witnesses, however, maintained that the train repeatedly sounded its horn before the collision.
Sengendo said Uganda Railways is implementing a programme to install automated barriers at railway crossings in densely populated areas, but stressed that improved infrastructure must be accompanied by responsible behaviour among road users.
The investigations are expected to establish the full circumstances that led to the collision, including the actions of the driver, the condition of the crossing and whether existing safety measures were adequate.
