11 taxis impounded for overloading on Masaka Highway
Kananura said in a statement released on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that many of the offenders deliberately travel at night to dodge checkpoints.
(Courtesy)
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Eleven commuter taxi drivers have been arrested, and their vehicles impounded for dangerous loading during a night operation at the Maya checkpoint on the Masaka Highway.
Traffic and Safety Directorate spokesperson Michael Kananura said in a statement released on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that many of the offenders deliberately travel at night to dodge checkpoints.
“But through intelligence-led operations, they were intercepted, detained and will be arraigned in court at the appropriate time to answer charges under the Traffic and Road Safety Act, Cap. 347. Dangerous loading is among the common traffic offences, particularly during night hours when some drivers mistakenly believe enforcement is minimal. We wish to send a clear warning to all motorists engaged in this illegal practice: We have started a crackdown against dangerous loading, and anyone found violating this shall be arrested and prosecuted,” Kananura said.
He explained that every vehicle is designed and licensed to carry a specific number of passengers.
“Carrying additional passengers or placing excessive loads inside or on top of a passenger vehicle alters its centre of gravity, making it unstable. This significantly increases the risk of tyre bursts, loss of control, running off the road, or overturning, often resulting in serious injuries or loss of life,” he said.
Kananura also said no journey is worth risking human life.
The operation comes in the wake of an increase in road crashes and fatalities.
Fourteen people were killed in a road crash in Lwera Swamp, Kalungu district, on the Kampala to Masaka Highway on the night of August 3, 2026.
The crash, which occurred at around 11:00 pm at Kamunga trading centre, involved a Toyota Hiace taxi, registration number UA 662AQ, and a Sino truck, registration number UBS 040F, which was transporting sand.
While releasing the 2025 annual traffic statistics in April this year, Traffic and Safety Directorate director at the Uganda Police Force, Dr Lawrence Niwabiine, said that a total of 26,044 road traffic crashes were reported in 2025, compared to 25,107 crashes recorded in 2024, representing an increase of 3.7%.
Niwabiine said that of the 26,044 crashes, 4,602 were fatal, meaning that one or more lives were lost, while 13,563 were serious and 7,879 were minor.