REPUBLISHED: “We Still Remember” — Eight Years Since the Karatu School Bus Tragedy That Claimed 32 Young Lives
Originally published: May 2017
Republished: June 2025
It has now been eight long years since the nation of Tanzania was shaken to its very core by one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in its modern history — the Karatu school bus accident, which claimed the lives of 32 bright young students, two dedicated teachers, and a brave bus driver. Though time has passed, the memory of that dark day — May 6, 2017 — remains etched into the collective soul of the nation, a wound that never truly healed but instead became a solemn reminder of fragility, loss, and unity in grief.
That morning had begun with such promise. The students of Lucky Vincent Primary School in Arusha were filled with excitement and nervous laughter as they boarded their yellow school bus. They were headed toward the Karatu district, ready to take part in a mock national examination — a proud milestone in their young academic journey. Their parents waved from the gates, their teachers smiled with pride, and no one could have imagined that within hours, that joy would turn into unimaginable sorrow.
As the bus made its way through the winding roads of Karatu’s mountainous terrain, the skies opened and rain began to fall, slicking the tarmac and shrouding the path ahead in mist. Witnesses later recalled seeing the bus struggling on a steep descent before it lost control on a slippery bend, careened off the road, and plunged into a deep ravine below. The crash was devastating. When rescue teams arrived, they were met with a scene of heartbreak beyond words — twisted metal, scattered belongings, and a silence that spoke louder than any cry.
The nation mourned as one. In schools, offices, churches, and mosques across Tanzania, candles were lit and tears were shed for the young lives lost far too soon. Vigils filled the nights in Arusha and Karatu, with parents clutching photographs, teachers speaking through tears, and communities gathering to pray. The Lucky Vincent Primary School, once filled with laughter and learning, became a place of quiet reflection — its playgrounds empty, its classrooms heavy with grief.
Leaders, both local and international, extended their condolences, but it was the strength and solidarity of ordinary Tanzanians that truly stood out. Donations poured in. Strangers offered comfort. And when the funerals began — small coffins carried through the streets, flowers piled high, songs of farewell echoing through the air — the entire country bowed its head as one.
In the years that followed, the Karatu tragedy became more than just a story of loss — it became a call for change and safety reform. Authorities reviewed transportation standards, and awareness grew around the importance of school bus safety and driver training in mountainous regions. The memory of those children inspired a renewed commitment to protecting every student on the road.
Today, eight years later, the grief has softened but never disappeared. Every year on May 6th, families and classmates gather at the memorial site in Arusha, laying flowers, reciting prayers, and reading aloud the names of the children who once dreamed of becoming doctors, teachers, and leaders. Their photographs — full of life, hope, and innocence — remind everyone that while they are gone, they will never be forgotten.
As Tanzania remembers the 2017 Karatu school bus tragedy, it does so with both pain and pride — pain for the lives lost, and pride in the resilience of a nation that stood together in its darkest hour. The story of Lucky Vincent Primary School is now woven into the fabric of Tanzania’s heart: a story not just of sorrow, but of remembrance, unity, and the enduring love of a people who will always say —
“We still remember.”
