National Mourning

REPUBLISHED: “We Still Remember” — Eight Years After the Karatu School Bus Tragedy

First published: May 2017
Republished: June 2025

Eight years have passed since one of Tanzania’s darkest days—the Karatu school bus crash that claimed 32 children, two teachers, and the bus driver. The events of May 6, 2017, remain etched in the nation’s memory, marking a day of grief that forever changed countless lives.

The children of Lucky Vincent Primary School in Arusha were en route to a mock national exam—an important milestone in their young academic paths—when tragedy struck. On a rain-slicked road in Karatu’s mountainous terrain, the bus lost control, careened off the road, and plunged into a ravine. Rescue teams arrived to a scene of profound loss.

News spread rapidly. Across Tanzania, television, radio, and newspapers interrupted regular programming to report on the disaster. President John Magufuli declared a period of national mourning, and vigils, memorials, and prayers united the country in shared sorrow.

Amid the devastation, there was a glimmer of hope: three students—Wilson, Sadia, and Doreen—were found alive. Severely injured, they were flown to the United States for specialized treatment. Their remarkable survival became a symbol of resilience and faith amid heartbreak.

The tragedy spurred national conversations on road safety, school transport regulations, rural infrastructure, and driver standards. While progress toward reform has been mixed, the Karatu disaster remains a constant reminder of what is at stake.

Today, flowers still grace the memorial site near Karatu. Families, friends, and educators continue to speak the names of those lost—not only as victims but as bright, hopeful children whose futures were stolen too soon.

Eight years later, the pain has eased but never disappeared. In republishing this account, we honor their memory and reaffirm a collective vow: never again.