Works Ministry Rolls Out Driver Demerit System to Curb Road Deaths

Winstone Katushabe, commissioner for road safety at the Ministry of Works and Transport addressing stakeholders in Kampala recently

KAMPALA — Uganda has begun rolling out mandatory inspections for commercial vehicles and plans to introduce a demerit points system and biometric monitoring of public transport drivers as authorities respond to a growing road safety crisis.

Winstone Katushabe, the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, told a virtual engagement organised by the Uganda Law Society that significant enforcement gaps remained, but several reforms were underway.

“We acknowledge that there are still gaps in our road safety and transport regulation system, but progress has been made and several interventions are underway,” Katushabe said.

The inspections, which have started with buses, taxis and trucks, are intended to remove mechanically defective vehicles from public roads.

The move follows revelations that three of four buses involved in major crashes in July had not been licensed because of poor mechanical condition and should not have been operating.

Government is also reviewing the Electronic Penalty System, which uses cameras and automated number plate recognition to detect traffic offences, after motorists raised concerns about fines, payment timelines and implementation errors.

“We are reviewing the Electronic Penalty System to address the concerns that have been raised and improve its effectiveness,” Katushabe said.

Under the planned demerit points system, motorists will lose points from their driving licences for traffic offences, with repeat offenders facing suspension or other sanctions.

The ministry is also introducing biometric systems to monitor public service vehicle drivers’ journeys, working hours and rest periods to reduce fatigue among long-distance bus and taxi drivers.

“We are strengthening the accreditation of public service vehicles and introducing biometric systems to help us address driver fatigue,” Katushabe said.

Uganda recorded 26,044 road crashes in 2025, up from 25,107 in 2024, according to police. More than 5,300 people were killed, with 56.2% of the victims below 35 and men accounting for 83% of fatalities.

Police attribute more than 40% of crashes to reckless driving, including speeding, dangerous overtaking and tailgating.

Katushabe said Uganda was also building capacity to conduct road safety audits so that highways and urban roads are designed and maintained with pedestrians, cyclists and motorists in mind.

He said reducing the death toll would require closer cooperation among the Ministry of Works and Transport, police, transport operators, lawyers, civil society and road users.