It is with a heavy heart that NCBA CLUSA confirms the tragic loss of project staff members in Uganda as a result of a bus accident, which took place today, December 18, 2018, at approximately 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EST).
The employees, all of whom worked for NCBA CLUSA’s Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (YETA) project, were traveling from Sipi Falls to Mbale following a staff training and retreat, about 200 miles east of Kampala.
“The NCBA CLUSA family is deeply saddened by this news, our hearts go out to the families and friends of the colleagues we lost today,” said Doug O’Brien, president and CEO of NCBA CLUSA. “We continue to work with all relevant agencies to ensure that the affected families receive much-needed support.”
Local police reports have placed the number of fatalities at 19, with 7-10 more people hospitalized. NCBA CLUSA continues to work with local staff and authorities to confirm the number of staff members involved in the accident. A thorough investigation is being conducted and more information will be shared as appropriate and as it becomes available.
Today’s incident is the worst tragedy in NCBA CLUSA’s more than 65 years of implementing development projects internationally.
The YETA project, which began in 2015 and runs through 2020, combines market-relevant skills training and access to financial services to help young people in Uganda transition out of poverty and into sustainable livelihoods.
