By Mulengera Reporters
Equity Bank Uganda has handed over a brand-new 2025 Isuzu 67-seater school bus to Busoga High School, Kamuli, in a move that underscores the growing emphasis on learner safety following a series of fatal road accidents involving school children across the country.
The new bus, acquired through Equity Bank Uganda’s tailored asset financing solutions, is fitted with onboard CCTV surveillance cameras to enhance safety, accountability, and monitoring during school transportation, offering learners a safer and more secure travel experience.
The handover comes at a time when Uganda is grappling with concerns over the safety of learners travelling for school activities. In recent weeks, several road crashes involving school vehicles have claimed the lives of students, prompting the Ministry of Education and Sports to suspend school tours and trips as investigations into the accidents continue.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Chairperson of the Busoga High School Board, Dr. Kakuba Mpango, urged the school’s driver to uphold the highest standards of discipline and professionalism while on the road.
“A school bus carries the future of this nation,” Dr. Mpango said. “Drive carefully, obey traffic regulations and always remember that parents are entrusting you with their children.”
In a symbolic gesture underscoring the importance of safety, the school invited a priest to bless both the new bus and its driver, praying for God’s protection over every journey undertaken by the school community.
The Guest of Honour, Kamuli Municipal Education Officer Ivan Wakabi, commended Equity Bank Uganda for supporting the education sector beyond conventional banking by enabling schools to invest in modern transport infrastructure.
He noted that acquiring well-equipped school buses is one of the practical measures that can help reduce road accidents involving learners.
“The safety of our children on the road has been a major concern, especially with learners walking long distances along busy roads or relying on unregulated public transport,” Wakabi said. “Having a dedicated school bus drastically reduces those road safety risks and gives parents peace of mind.”
He added that many learners walk between two and three kilometres to and from school each day, exposing them to traffic hazards.
“This new bus provides a safe, controlled environment where our learners are protected on their daily commute,” he said.
Wakabi further urged school administrators across the country to invest in roadworthy vehicles and enforce strict safety standards through regular maintenance, responsible driving, and strict adherence to traffic regulations.
Speaking at the event, Tom Mwanje, Equity Bank Uganda’s Jinja Branch Manager, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to empowering educational institutions through affordable and flexible financing solutions that enable schools to invest in quality infrastructure without straining their cash flows.
“Equity Bank offers a complete suite of financial solutions for educational institutions, including Asset Financing for critical vehicles and equipment, Development Financing to build dormitories, science labs and classrooms, and Bridge Financing to help schools manage short-term cash flow gaps, payroll and maintenance needs,” Mwanje said.
He noted that access to modern transport is essential not only for facilitating academic and co-curricular activities but also for safeguarding the lives of learners and school staff.
The newly acquired 67-seater Isuzu bus is expected to significantly improve Busoga High School’s transport capacity while providing parents with greater confidence in the safety of their children whenever they travel.
As schools continue to adjust to heightened safety requirements, stakeholders at the ceremony agreed that protecting learners requires a collective effort involving schools, parents, financial institutions, government agencies, and drivers themselves.
The handover concluded with excitement among students, teachers, and parents, who welcomed the arrival of the new CCTV-equipped bus as both an investment in education and a timely response to the national call for safer school transportation. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
