YY Coaches ordered to submit driver records amid ongoing suspension

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The Ministry of Works and Transport has directed YY Coaches to submit a comprehensive list of all its drivers, including appointment letters and copies of their driver badges, for verification as part of a broader safety crackdown.

The directive comes as the inspection of the company’s fleet entered its second day. On Monday, May 19, 2025, Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe, the ministry’s communications officer, emphasised that the required documents must be submitted within the ongoing 15-day suspension period and before the company resumes any highway operations.

“The requirement to submit the documents must be met within the 15-day suspension period and prior to the resumption of operations on any highway in Uganda,” Ssempebwa said.

The move follows a directive by the Minister of State for Transport, Fred Byamukama, aimed at improving road safety standards and safeguarding passengers.

On 12 May, Byamukama announced the suspension of YY Coaches, citing two recent fatal crashes involving the company’s buses. The first incident occurred on May 5, when a bus (registration number UAV 701C) crashed at Najja village in Buikwe district, along the Kampala–Katosi–Jinja highway.

Three people were killed, and preliminary investigations blamed driver negligence. The driver reportedly fled the scene and is still at large.

The second accident, involving another YY bus (registration number UAX 852F), took place on the Kampala–Yumbe route, leaving one person dead and over 40 others hospitalised. The bus reportedly caught fire under unclear circumstances.

Following these incidents, the minister convened a meeting with YY Coaches management, where the government raised serious concerns over the company’s safety protocols and driver conduct.

In a letter signed by Byamukama, the ministry stated:

“The ministry is deeply concerned about the recent series of accidents involving your buses.”

YY Coaches has been banned from operating on all routes for 15 days, effective Tuesday, May 13, as authorities conduct fleet inspections and verify driver credentials.

Meanwhile, the Uganda Bus Owners Association (UBOA), the umbrella body representing bus companies, has called for dialogue as a solution to the ongoing crisis.