Truck Crashes Into Classroom Block, Leaves Four Dead, 20 Injured

In Kanoni Town Council, Gomba District, Uganda, a truck rammed into a classroom block at Kasaka Secondary School, leaving at least four students dead and 20 others injured. 

The incident happened at about 2:30 pm while the students were in class.

Eve Namagembe (Senior Five), Hilda Asege (Senior Four), and John Bosco (Senior Two) were the victims whose names were made public by the school authority. 

The fourth victim was reportedly crushed beyond recognition, and DNA testing will be used to identify the remains.

The driver of the unfortunate Sinotruk truck first struck the school gate before slamming into the computer lab and Senior Four West classroom, according to the school's head teacher Kefasi Katumba, who spoke to Monitor, a Ugandan news outlet.

“The driver seems to have failed to negotiate the corner and thought the truck will stop if he hits the school gate.  

"Unfortunately, it just continued moving, crashing into the computer lab where it killed two students on spot and injured several others. 

"The same truck moved ahead and rammed into the Senior Four West classroom where it also killed at least one student on spot and injured others,” he said.

According to Katumba, Senior Two student John Bosco passed away as soon as he arrived at a neighbourhood clinic in Kanoni Town.

The school secretary Cissy Nambejja, who was in the computer lab with the students, sustained fractures to her hands and legs.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the deceased students. 

"We share in their grief during this trying time. We pray that those injured get out of danger,” Katumba told The Monitor reporter on Tuesday.

In addition, the school administration was compelled to send other students home on Tuesday evening until the next Monday while they recover from their shock over the tragedy.