King David Junior School has announced a two-week closure following the devastating road crash that claimed the lives of several pupils and left dozens of others injured.
The decision to close the school was jointly taken by the municipal authorities and the school’s management, according to Pauline Nsangi, the Municipal Education Officer. It was announced this afternoon by the school’s Director of Studies, Alfred Mutenyu, who said the temporary closure would give pupils, teachers and families time to mourn and begin healing from the tragedy.
“We are closing for two weeks. Everyone who has a child should go to the staffroom for verification before we hand over the child,” Mutenyu told parents over the school’s public address system.
The announcement came as anxious parents filled the school compound, many seated outside classroom blocks while administrators worked with security agencies and health officials to verify the identities of victims, account for survivors and provide updates on injured pupils. School administrators said the verification process was intended to ensure that every child was released only to the right parent or guardian.
Each public announcement was met with complete silence as parents listened intently, hoping to hear news about their children. The quiet was often followed by subdued conversations as families tried to make sense of the unfolding tragedy.
For many, however, the agonising wait continued. Some parents rushed to the school gate whenever a vehicle entered the compound, hoping it carried surviving pupils. Others remained glued to their phones, desperately searching for official updates, hospital information or lists of those affected.
Mutenyu said pupils who survived the crash and had travelled on the study tour were expected back at the school later on Friday. They, too, would undergo a verification process before being reunited with their parents or guardians.
Meanwhile, teachers continued registering parents’ contact details while coordinating with security personnel and health authorities. Several parents appealed for timely and accurate information, saying the uncertainty surrounding their children’s fate had compounded their anguish.
Police officers and soldiers remained deployed at the school as the number of relatives, journalists and well-wishers steadily grew.
Amid the emotional scenes, tensions briefly flared when a grieving mother confronted a TikTok content creator who was filming her and asking how she felt. “How can you ask such a question?” the distraught woman cried as she attempted to grab the young man by the collar, prompting those nearby to intervene.
As Friday afternoon wore on, the school had become a place of mourning, prayer and anxious waiting. Families clung to hope while seeking confirmation about their loved ones, as the King David Junior School community struggled to come to terms with one of the darkest days in its history-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
