ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the North Bukedi regional police spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that the vehicle was transporting a team of players to Jami Seed Secondary School in Budaka District for the 2026, Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) games.
By Prosper Gibolo
Police in Budaka District have commenced investigations into a fatal road crash that left one student of Iki-Iki Secondary School in Budaka District dead and others critically injured.
The crash involving Isuzu truck registration number UAP 443Z occurred on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at around 9:00am in Jami Mailo Nine along Mbale-Tirinyi road in Budaka District.
ASP Wilfred Kyempasa, the North Bukedi regional police spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that the vehicle was transporting a team of players to Jami Seed Secondary School in Budaka District for the ongoing 2026, Uganda Secondary School Sports Association (USSSA) games.
The team according to ASP Kyempasa included 12 girls and 26 boys, a school cook and two security guards.
He said the police team from Budaka Central Police Station led by the District Police Commander (DPC), and District Traffic Officer (DTO), AIP Topista Talunga, visited and documented the scene.
According to ASP Kyempasa, the deceased identified as Babirye Linda, aged 17, a resident of Kadenghe village, Iki-Iki Sub-county in Budaka District and a senior two student at Iki-Iki Secondary School, died on the spot.
He said that the injured students were evacuated to Mbale Regional Hospital
ASP Kyempasa revealed that the errant driver, Ronald Matovu, aged 25, was arrested and is currently in police custody to help with the investigations into the cause of the crash.
He said that preliminary investigations indicate that the driver failed to negotiate a sharp corner and veered off the road before overturning several times with dozens of students on board.
ASP observed that the investigations further reveal that the vehicle was overlooked and was in bad mechanical condition.
