Govt Steps Up Road Safety Crackdown on Buses, Trucks

Commissioner Winstone Katushabe leading today’s inspection along Bombo road

KAMPALA — The government on Tuesday intensified a major road safety crackdown along the Kampala–Gulu Highway, targeting unroadworthy vehicles, unqualified drivers and other safety violations under Operation Barabara Salaama.

Joint enforcement teams deployed along the highway are inspecting all categories of vehicles for dangerous mechanical condition (DMC), obscured registration plates, worn-out tyres, defective or flickering lights, illegal or noisy horns, driving licence violations and other offences.

Authorities said non-compliant vehicles and drivers would face enforcement action.

Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winstone Katushabe said the operation is also focusing heavily on public service vehicles to ensure buses are roadworthy and driven by properly licensed and authorised drivers.

“What we are doing now is to make sure that we get the right drivers driving the right buses,” Katushabe said.

An overloaded taxi was impounded

He said bus drivers must possess the appropriate driving licence and meet Ministry of Works and Transport requirements, including carrying an authorised driver’s badge.

The driver’s photograph and identification details should also be displayed inside the bus so passengers can confirm that the person behind the wheel is authorised to operate the vehicle.

Katushabe said enforcement teams are also targeting overloaded public service vehicles, with Police instructed to charge drivers carrying passengers beyond permitted capacity.

“We have asked Police to charge the drivers for overloading passengers because we expect these vehicles to be safer on our roads,” he said.

The crackdown comes amid a continuing rise in road carnage.

Uganda recorded 26,044 road crashes in 2025, up 3.7% from 25,107 in 2024, according to Police statistics.

Fatal crashes increased from 4,434 to 4,602, while 5,383 people were killed on the country’s roads — about 15 deaths every day.

Deputy Director of Traffic Police, Norman Musinga said no stone will be left unturned in countering reckless driving and impunity on roads.

“This operation has also been extended to trucks in dangerous mechanical condition because we have witnessed several crashes involving heavy commercial vehicles,” he said.

Musinga warned against overloading of public transport vehicles

The Kampala–Gulu corridor has itself witnessed several deadly crashes.

In July, at least 14 people were killed and 28 injured after a bus collided with a truck on the highway to Gulu, with Police preliminary findings pointing to speeding as the bus driver attempted to avoid a pedestrian.

Katushabe said the operation would continue as authorities seek to improve compliance and reduce deaths and injuries on Uganda’s roads.

“We must make every effort to keep our roads safe,” he said.

Authorities said road safety is non-negotiable and warned motorists to ensure their vehicles and documentation comply with the law before taking to the road.