A bus carrying pupils and teachers from Pallisa Primary School caught fire early Tuesday morning, August 22, as it was returning from a school festival in Serere. The bus was carrying 70 pupils and 13 teachers. They were all safely evacuated with no injuries.
The accident occurred at Atot Swamp along Mukongoro road. The bus rear tyre burst, leading to a fire which quickly engulfed the entire bus. The police PRO for East Kyoga, SP Oscar Gregg Ageca, confirmed the accident. He said the bus has been towed to Ngora Central Police Station.
“The bus was carrying pupils and teachers from Pallisa Primary School. They were returning from a musical festival that had been held in Serere,” Ageca said. “The accident occurred after the bus rear tyre burst leading to a fire which quickly engulfed the entire bus. All pupils and teachers were safely evacuated with no injuries as the fire consumed the vehicle.”
Ageca said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The pupils and teachers are said to be shaken by the incident, but they are grateful to have escaped unharmed. “We are grateful to God that we are all safe,” said one of the pupils. “The fire started very suddenly and we were all scared. But the teachers helped us to evacuate the bus quickly and we were all unharmed.”
The head teacher of Pallisa Primary School, Mr. John Okello, said he is relieved that the 70 pupils and 13 teachers are safe. “I am very grateful to the police and the other motorists who helped to evacuate the pupils and teachers from the bus,” Okello said. “This was a very scary incident, but I am glad that everyone is safe.”
The bus has been towed to Ngora Central Police Station and the police are investigating the cause of the fire.
