By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced an impending crackdown on reckless bus and taxi drivers, following a worrying increase in road accidents over the past four months.
Speaking at a press briefing, Minister of state for works and transport , Fred Byamukama expressed strong disapproval of drivers who continue to endanger passengers’ lives under the guise of earning a living.
“Last time, I punished a bus and saw people in town wanting to demonstrate, asking why I stopped the bus,” he said. “Earning a living when you are killing people? We can’t allow Uganda to keep losing lives on our roads.”
Byamukama revealed that, before the end of the day (May 12), the ministry would announce punishments for drivers responsible for recent fatal accidents. He emphasized that buses are being prioritized because they carry many passengers, but similar penalties will soon be extended to taxi drivers nationwide.
The minister also disclosed new strategies to improve accountability, including requiring all taxi owners, drivers, and conductors to operate under registered associations.
“If you’re operating, you have to operate in an association,” he said, adding that informal branding like “Kampala Gayaza stage” will be replaced with official association-based identifiers for easier tracking.
This move comes in response to two recent accidents involving YY Coaches. In the first incident, a bus caught fire last Monday evening, resulting in three fatalities and injuring over 30 people. In the second incident, another bus overturned, however, no lives were lost.
The minister made the remarks during the launch of the upcoming Road Safety Marathon organized by Legacy Road Safety Initiative (LRSI) scheduled for May 31, 2025.
He urged the public including the media to join the marathon, and help to create awareness on road safety in Uganda.
“Your participation will send a powerful message, no one deserves to die in a road crash. Let us run together for Road Safety,” he said.
He said that the government will soon start using an Express Penalty System that sends digital notices to drivers who violate traffic rules. “The system will send you a message when you drive recklessly, and you will be charged,” he warned.
He urged citizens to transfer ownership of vehicles after sale to prevent being penalized for offenses committed by new owners.
The 2024 Police Crime Annual Report shows that an average of 14 people die daily in road crashes in Uganda. A total of 5,144 fatalities were recorded, up 7% from 4,806 in 2023, while 17,013 were seriously injured, marking a 1.7% increase.
