This week, drivers and riders who do not possess valid driving licenses risk being snapped by the jaws of the law in a new operation by the Uganda Police Force.

Micheal Kananura, the Traffic and Safety Directorate spokesperson, said the crackdown is targeting a driver or rider without a license, one with an out-of-class license and one with an expired license.

And the law is clear on that.

Section 35 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act (amended in 2020) says that a person shall not drive any class of motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant on a road unless he or she is in possession of a copy of a valid driving license or a copy of a valid learner driving license in respect of that motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant.

The same law provides that anyone who contravenes this part of the law commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding  300 currency points (sh600, 000) or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both. 

In the latest operation, Kananura said offenders will be issued Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) tickets in line with the EPS regulations of 2013.

“Operations among boda bodas targeting those without riding licenses, reflective jackets and helmets are to continue,” he added.

Rising death on roads

According to the 2023 Police Annual Crime Report released in February this year, Uganda recorded a 30 percent increase in road fatalities registered with the Police last year, with 4,179 lives lost.

The death toll in road crashes increased by 30 percent to 4,179 in 2023 from 3,210 in 2022, retiring Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola said at the launch of the report. 

“The figure in serious crashes increased to 12,487 in 2023 from 8,860 in 2022.”

At least 23,608 road crashes were recorded in 2023 compared to 20,394 cases registered in the previous year, the report said.

“There was a 15.5 percent increase in common offences registered by the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety countrywide from 456,993 cases registered in 2022 to 528,025 cases in 2023."

To curb the alarming accident rates, the Police said they had resorted to enforcement of traffic laws and regulations through operations targeting commercial motorcycle riders, commuter passenger taxis, and other risk factors such as speeding and drunk driving.