“To school proprietors, headteachers and drivers: our children are not cargo. They are the future of Uganda. Take full responsibility for their safety. No convenience is worth a child’s life. Let’s choose safety, always,” she added.
State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Dr. Mercy Faith Lakisa, on Thursday morning intercepted a school coaster transporting pupils to an educational tour after discovering it was dangerously overloaded.
According to the minister, the vehicle, which has a seating capacity of 29 passengers, was carrying about 70 pupils, a situation she described as a grave risk to the children’s lives.
Dr. Lakisa said she immediately contacted the Traffic Police to handle the matter and directed the school to provide an additional vehicle capable of safely transporting the learners before the journey could continue.
Although she did not disclose the name of the school involved, the minister ordered the coaster, together with the pupils, to be escorted to Kawempe Police Station as school administrators worked to find an alternative means of transport.
“Today morning, I intercepted a school van transporting pupils under dangerously overcrowded conditions. This is a stark reminder of how road negligence threatens our most vulnerable,” Dr. Lakisa said.
She stressed that the safety of children must never be compromised and called on Traffic Police to intensify enforcement against school vehicles that violate road safety regulations.
“Our children’s safety is non-negotiable. I have called on Traffic Police to strictly enforce safety regulations and clamp down on school vehicle overloading,” she said.
The minister also appealed to school proprietors, headteachers and drivers to prioritize the welfare and safety of learners.
“To school proprietors, headteachers and drivers: our children are not cargo. They are the future of Uganda. Take full responsibility for their safety. No convenience is worth a child’s life. Let’s choose safety, always,” she added.
Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura commended the minister for her swift intervention, saying road safety requires collective responsibility.
“When everyone becomes concerned and gets involved, we will see this come to an end. Thank you, Honourable,” Kananura said.
The incident comes amid growing concern over the safety of school transport following several road crashes involving vehicles carrying learners. Authorities have repeatedly warned schools against overloading vehicles, saying the practice not only violates traffic regulations but also endangers the lives of children.