Police Arrest Bus Driver at Maya Checkpoint Over Drink-Driving

Police have arrested a bus driver for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and detained three school bus drivers accused of operating without mandatory badges.

Police have arrested a bus driver for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and detained three school bus drivers for allegedly operating without mandatory badges as traffic enforcement operations intensify across the country.

Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said on Wednesday that the bus driver, Bosco Wansika, was intercepted at the Maya Checkpoint in Mpigi District.

“The driver UAY 458F, Wansika Bosco, has been detained at Maya Checkpoint after he was found driving the bus under the influence of alcohol. He is currently in custody and will be produced before court to answer the charges,” Kananura said.

Police also intercepted three school bus drivers at Njeru after they were allegedly found driving without badges issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport.

“Meanwhile, three school bus drivers were intercepted [in] Njeru for driving without the badges issued by Ministry of Works and Transport. They have been detained and will appear in court tomorrow [today, Thursday],” Kananura said.

Kananura warned drivers against drink-driving and urged commercial and school bus operators to comply with licensing and other mandatory requirements.

“We condemn drink-driving, which puts the lives of passengers and other road users at serious risk. We further urge all bus drivers, including school bus drivers, to ensure they possess valid badges and comply with all traffic laws and regulations,” he said.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Comply before we come for you,” he added.

The arrests are part of intensified enforcement targeting commercial and heavy vehicle operators, with police checking driver qualifications, licensing and compliance with road safety requirements.

The latest action follows the arrest of another driver, Martin Oponya, in Mpigi after he allegedly failed to stop when directed by traffic officers.

Oponya was driving Sino truck UA 367AM when he was intercepted at the Maya Checkpoint at about 8pm. Police said he was allegedly found driving under the influence of alcohol and without a valid driving licence.

He was detained at Maya pending court proceedings, while the owner of the truck was also charged with allegedly allowing a person without a valid driving licence to drive the vehicle.

The enforcement comes amid heightened government scrutiny of commercial vehicles, particularly heavy trucks, following concerns over road safety and a series of fatal crashes.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has also stepped up efforts to ensure heavy truck operators comply with safety requirements, including mechanical inspections and professional competency checks for drivers.

Earlier this month, the government gave Sino truck owners two months to have their vehicles undergo mandatory mechanical inspections, warning that trucks operating without the required clearance could be removed from the roads.

Police have in recent weeks intensified checks on commercial transport operators, focusing on drink-driving, unlicensed drivers, vehicle safety compliance and other traffic violations.