KAMPALA – Parliament has launched an investigation into the fatal collision between a school bus and a passenger train in Mukono District, with legislators demanding urgent action to improve safety at railway crossings across the country.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa directed the Committee on Physical Infrastructure to investigate the circumstances surrounding the July 10, 2026 accident following concerns raised by Mukono County South MP Robert Maseruka over repeated transport safety failures.
The accident occurred at the Namumira–Bukasa railway crossing along Katosi Road in Nakisunga Sub-County, Mukono District, when a bus carrying students and teachers from Mwebaza High School collided with a Uganda Railways passenger train while heading to Jinja for an educational trip.
A female passenger died at the scene, while several students and other occupants sustained injuries and were rushed to health facilities for treatment.
While presenting the matter before Parliament, Maseruka said the tragedy exposed weaknesses in the management of railway crossings and called for stronger measures to protect road users.
He urged government to install improved warning systems, establish physical barriers at dangerous crossings and enforce strict measures against motorists who ignore railway safety rules.
Maseruka also called for a nationwide assessment of railway crossing points to identify risky areas and address safety gaps before more lives are lost.
“Safety is a shared responsibility,” Maseruka said, urging government agencies to work together in strengthening road and railway safety management.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa said relying on traffic officers alone to control movement at railway crossings was not a lasting solution, calling for more permanent safety systems.
“When the train is crossing, we should block the roads,” Tayebwa said as he tasked the committee with investigating the accident and coming up with recommendations.
The Second Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, told Parliament that government had already taken note of the concerns and was implementing measures following the tragedy.
The parliamentary probe is expected to examine the condition of railway crossings, the effectiveness of existing warning systems, compliance with safety procedures and the responsibility of drivers using railway crossing points.
The Mukono accident has renewed debate on safety standards for school trips, especially those involving the transportation of large numbers of learners over long distances.
Police investigations into the cause of the crash are still ongoing as authorities work to establish the exact events that led to the collision.
