Equity Bank Finances Safety-Focused Bus for Busoga High as Schools Tighten Learner Transport Standards

July 23, 2026 in Financial Services, Transport by Editor

Equity Bank Uganda has financed a new 67-seater Isuzu school bus for Busoga High School in Kamuli, highlighting the growing role of asset financing in improving learner safety. The handover comes as schools face increased scrutiny over transport standards following recent fatal road accidents involving students.

 

Equity Bank Uganda has financed the acquisition of a new 67-seater school bus for Busoga High School in Kamuli, adding momentum to efforts to improve learner safety as schools face heightened scrutiny over transport standards following a series of fatal road accidents involving students.

The 2025 Isuzu bus, handed over to the school on Thursday, is equipped with onboard surveillance cameras designed to improve monitoring, accountability and safety during school journeys.

Its arrival comes against the backdrop of growing national concern over school transport after several crashes involving school vehicles claimed the lives of learners, prompting the Ministry of Education and Sports to suspend school tours and trips pending investigations and a review of safety practices.

The investment also reflects a growing role for financial institutions in enabling schools to acquire modern transport fleets through asset financing rather than relying solely on outright purchases.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Busoga High School Board Chairperson Dr. Kakuba Mpango reminded the driver that school transport carries an exceptional responsibility.

“A school bus carries the future of this nation,” he said, urging strict adherence to traffic regulations and professional driving standards.

The school also held a blessing ceremony for the new vehicle and its driver, underscoring the importance placed on the safety of every journey undertaken by the institution.

Kamuli Municipal Education Officer Ivan Wakabi described dedicated school transport as an important investment in learner welfare, particularly for students who would otherwise travel long distances on foot or rely on unregulated public transport.

“When students walk two to three kilometres to and from school every day, they are exposed to traffic hazards and accidents,” Wakabi said. “This new bus provides a safe, controlled environment where our learners are protected on their daily commute.”

He said the acquisition of modern, roadworthy school buses should become part of broader efforts to reduce road crashes involving learners, alongside regular vehicle maintenance, responsible driving and strict compliance with traffic regulations.

The handover echoes recent calls by UNICEF for schools and transport operators to prioritise roadworthy vehicles and stronger safety measures to prevent avoidable child deaths on Uganda’s roads.

For Equity Bank Uganda, the transaction illustrates how asset financing is becoming an increasingly important tool for educational institutions seeking to invest in infrastructure while preserving working capital.

Tom Mwanje, the bank’s Jinja Branch Manager, said schools require flexible financing options that extend beyond traditional lending.

He said the bank offers asset financing for vehicles and equipment, development financing for infrastructure such as classrooms, dormitories and laboratories, and bridge financing to help institutions manage short-term operational needs including payroll and maintenance.

“Access to modern transport is essential not only for academic and co-curricular activities but also for safeguarding the lives of learners and staff,” Mwanje said.

The new bus is expected to strengthen Busoga High School’s transport capacity while giving parents greater confidence in the safety of their children during school travel.

Beyond a single vehicle, education stakeholders say the initiative highlights the need for a coordinated approach to learner safety involving schools, parents, financial institutions, transport regulators and government agencies.

As Uganda reviews school transport practices in the wake of recent tragedies, investments in safer vehicles, better driver training and improved maintenance standards are increasingly being viewed not simply as operational upgrades, but as essential measures to protect learners and sustain confidence in the education system.