Authorities have urged transport operators, drivers and passengers to support the enforcement measures, emphasizing that adherence to traffic regulations is essential for protecting lives on the country’s roads.
The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has intensified enforcement operations against public service vehicles (PSVs), impounding 51 buses in the past week as part of efforts to curb road crashes involving passenger transport.
Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said the operation follows a series of recent road accidents involving buses and is aimed at ensuring strict compliance with route charts and other traffic regulations governing public transport.
According to Kananura, 41 of the impounded buses were found operating outside their approved route charts, while 10 others lacked mandatory requirements such as valid driving licences, driver badges and identification photographs.
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The affected drivers have since been arraigned before court and charged with various traffic-related offences.
“Following the recent road crashes involving public service vehicles, particularly buses, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has intensified enforcement operations, with emphasis on compliance with route charts and other traffic regulations that govern public transport,” Kananura said.
The Traffic Police acknowledged concerns from some passengers who have viewed the enforcement of route charts as an inconvenience. However, Kananura stressed that the regulations are intended to enhance road safety rather than disrupt travel.
He explained that route charts, issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport, are designed to regulate return journeys, prevent drivers from making unauthorized extra trips, and reduce fatigue, which remains one of the leading causes of road crashes.
The route charts also help discourage speeding by ensuring transport operators adhere to scheduled travel times and prevent the unnecessary concentration of buses on the same routes, reducing unhealthy competition that often results in reckless driving.
“Compliance with route charts is therefore mandatory. Any driver or operator found violating these requirements will face the full force of the law,” Kananura warned.
He further cautioned that police officers who knowingly allow non-compliant buses to pass through highway checkpoints without taking appropriate enforcement action will also be held accountable.
The latest operation forms part of the Traffic Police’s broader strategy to improve road safety and reduce fatal crashes on Uganda’s highways, particularly those involving public transport vehicles.
Authorities have urged transport operators, drivers and passengers to support the enforcement measures, emphasizing that adherence to traffic regulations is essential for protecting lives on the country’s roads.
