Bus driver detained for unsafe passenger transport
The driver, whose name has not been disclosed, was reportedly operating a bus with the registration number UAY 071D when he was stopped and his vehicle was impounded.
Michael Kananura, the spokesperson for the Traffic and Road Safety Directorate urged all motorists to strictly adhere to traffic laws and regulations. (File photo)
John Masaba
Journalist @New Vision
________________
Police have confirmed the arrest of a male driver following a traffic incident on the Jinja-Iganga highway on Sunday.
The driver, whose name has not been disclosed, was reportedly operating a bus with the registration number UAY 071D when he was stopped and his vehicle was impounded.
Michael Kananura, spokesperson for the Traffic and Road Safety Directorate, stated that the driver is currently being held at Njeru Police Station, citing the suspect's offence as transporting passengers in an unsafe or dangerous manner.
"We urge all motorists to strictly adhere to traffic laws and regulations, knowing that responsible citizens, alongside traffic police, are actively monitoring our roads," Kananura said.
"We encourage the public to continue reporting such violations, understanding that road safety is everyone's responsibility."
Arrangements are in place for the suspect to appear in court on Monday, May 19 2025.
Responding to public alerts, the police regularly carry out arrests as part of their efforts to enhance road safety and reduce accidents.
In April, a driver named Abu Muhereza was arrested for drunk driving along the Mbarara-Fort Portal highway.
He was operating a passenger service Toyota Hiace (drone) with registration number UBR 220H when he was intercepted while carrying passengers.
Uganda loses an average of 14 lives daily due to road crashes, with many incidents attributed to reckless and drunk driving.
Rising incidents
The 2024 annual crime report, released in March, revealed that a total of 5,144 people died in road crashes, marking a 7% increase from the 4,806 deaths recorded in 2023.
Additionally, 17,013 individuals suffered serious injuries due to road accidents in 2024, representing a 1.7% increase.
The report also noted a 6.4% rise in the total number of reported road crashes, increasing from 23,608 in 2023 to 25,107 in 2024. The number of fatal crashes rose by 6.1%, from 4,179 in 2023 to 4,434 in 2024.
Moreover, serious crashes increased by 5.2%, from 12,487 in 2023 to 13,134 in 2024. Minor crashes saw an 8.6% rise, moving from 6,942 in 2023 to 7,539 in 2024.
Fatal crashes involve at least one death, serious crashes involve injuries without fatalities, and minor crashes result in vehicle damage with no injuries or deaths.
According to the report, the highest number of crashes — 2,445 — occurred in December, while the lowest was recorded in April, with 1,863 crashes.
The report also indicated that more crashes were reported on Sundays than on any other day of the week in 2024, followed by Saturdays and Mondays.