Uganda commercial transporters commit to discipline rogue drivers
Road Safety Advocacy Coalition Uganda (ROSACU) chairperson Fred Tumwine said transport associations must play a greater role in promoting professionalism and enforcing discipline among their members.
At a joint road safety press conference in Kampala on Friday, leaders of transport associations said road safety is a shared responsibility that requires transport operators to hold their members accountable for reckless driving, speeding and failure to observe traffic regulations. (Credit: Rhyman Agaba)
KAMPALA - Commercial transport operators have pledged to enforce regulations within the sector by identifying and disciplining rogue drivers in efforts to curb motor vehicle crashes.
The campaign aims at restoring public confidence in passenger transport.
The commitment follows a fatal school bus crash in Kapchorwa District on Friday night in which 21 people, including 15 children, died, prompting renewed calls for stricter road safety measures and the Government's suspension of all school trips and educational excursions.
At a joint road safety press conference in Kampala on Friday, leaders of transport associations said road safety is a shared responsibility that requires transport operators to hold their members accountable for reckless driving, speeding and failure to observe traffic regulations.
The meeting was organised by over fifty members from various entities such as the Road Safety Advocacy Coalition Uganda (ROSACU) in partnership with the Uganda Professional Drivers Network (UPDN) and brought together representatives of the United Bus Drivers Association (UBDA), Boda Boda Industry Uganda, the Association of Children Transporters (ACT), the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) and other transport stakeholders.
Road Safety Advocacy Coalition Uganda (ROSACU) chairperson Fred Tumwine said transport associations must play a greater role in promoting professionalism and enforcing discipline among their members.
"Road safety begins with responsible road users. Every transport association has a duty to ensure that its members comply with traffic regulations and uphold professional standards," Tumwine said during the meeting at Hotel Eliana.
He urged Government to complement industry efforts by increasing investment in road safety programmes, strengthening traffic enforcement and supporting continuous professional development for commercial drivers.
"We appeal to the Government of Uganda and Parliament to increase and protect funding for road safety because institutions need adequate, predictable and timely resources to implement existing policies," he said.
Tumwine said additional funding should support driver continuous professional development, traffic enforcement, public education, vehicle inspections, road safety audits, improvements at accident black spots, crash data systems, ambulance services, trauma care and local government interventions.
Uganda Professional Drivers Network (UPDN) executive director, Ndugu Omongo, said professional drivers have a responsibility to protect the lives entrusted to them every day.
"Describing the sector as the backbone of Uganda's economy through support to: trade, tourism, public health, education and emergency response, Omongo said the sector would continue promoting discipline, ethics and competence among drivers through continuous training and peer accountability.
United Bus Drivers Association secretary Ibrahim Kayondo said transport operators would not shield drivers found violating road safety standards.
He also called on the Government to formally recognise commercial driving as a skilled profession and establish a national framework for continuous post-licensing professional development.
United Bus Drivers Association secretary Ibrahim Kayondo said transport operators would not shield drivers found violating road safety standards.
"Drivers who consistently disregard safety regulations tarnish the image of the profession and put lives at risk," he warned.
Representing the Boda Boda Industry Uganda, Dickson Mujuni said commercial motorcyclists should equally be integrated into road safety programmes and sensitisation campaigns since they account for a large proportion of road users.
Centre for Policy Analysis executive director Timothy Chemonges said road crashes continue to impose enormous social and economic costs on the country and called for sustained investment in prevention rather than responding after accidents occur.
Kapchorwa tragedy sparks renewed action
The transport sector's commitments come after the Ministry of Education and Sports suspended all school trips and educational excursions following the Kapchorwa bus crash.
Acting Education Minister John Chrysostom Muyingo said the suspension would remain in force as Government reviews school transport safety guidelines.
"As an immediate precautionary measure, we must do something about the safety of our children," Muyingo said.
Twenty pupils and one adult, the founder and director of King David Junior School, Tadeo Ssekade, died when the school's bus crashed at Chekwatit Village in Kapchorwa District while returning from an educational tour to Sipi Falls.
Dozens of pupils and school staff were injured. Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said preliminary investigations indicate the bus developed a mechanical fault before the driver lost control while descending Chekwatit Hill, an area that has recorded several serious crashes.
Road deaths continue to rise
According to Police statistics, 44.5% of road crashes recorded in 2024 were attributed to careless overtaking and speeding.
Uganda recorded 5,144 road deaths in 2024, while an estimated 5,383 people died in road crashes in 2025, representing an average of about 15 deaths every day.
Road crashes are estimated to cost the country more than sh7 trillion annually, equivalent to about 5% of Uganda's Gross Domestic Product, while regional referral hospitals spend approximately sh315.72 billion every year treating crash victims.
Transport stakeholders said restoring discipline within the industry, strengthening enforcement and investing in professional driver training are essential if Uganda is to reverse the rising trend of road deaths and prevent tragedies similar to the Kapchorwa crash.