At least 20 children and one adult were killed after a school bus carrying primary school students overturned in eastern Uganda while returning from an educational trip, police said Friday.

The accident occurred Thursday night in Kapchorwa District as the bus was transporting students back to Kampala after visiting the scenic Sipi Falls, according to the Uganda Police Force.

Several survivors, including three adults and a number of children, were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Police did not immediately disclose the total number of injured passengers.

Uganda's Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, said at least nine children remained in critical condition. He added that the adult killed in the crash appeared to be the founder and head of the school.

Residents of the nearby village were the first to respond, helping rescue victims from the wreckage and transporting the injured to hospitals before emergency services arrived.

Police identified the vehicle as belonging to King David Junior School, a primary school based in the capital, Kampala.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver lost control of the bus, which veered off the road, struck a rock and overturned. Authorities said the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Images released by police showed the bus lying on its side with its roof torn off, exposing damaged seats. Personal belongings, including luggage and clothing, were scattered across the road.

Road accidents are common in Uganda, where authorities frequently cite speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and inadequate road infrastructure as major causes of crashes.

Earlier this month, at least 14 people were killed when a bus collided with a truck in northern Uganda.

According to the World Health Organization and the United Nations, Africa records the world's highest road fatality rate, with more than 300,000 road deaths annually, highlighting persistent road safety challenges across the continent.