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The Government has announced sweeping new measures to strengthen school transport safety, including stricter driver vetting, enhanced vehicle inspections and the temporary suspension of school study trips, following the recent school bus crash that claimed the lives of more than 20 students.
The reforms were unveiled on Friday during a high-level stakeholder conference convened by the Ministry of Works and Transport in partnership with the Uganda Police Force, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS). The meeting brought together government agencies and road safety stakeholders to address the growing number of road crashes involving school-going children.
Speaking at the conference, the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Winston Katushabe, said the recent tragedy had exposed serious gaps in school transport safety and demanded immediate intervention.
“Recent road tragedies involving children highlight the need for stronger safety measures. The Ministry is committed to strengthening inspections of transport, including school buses, while embracing smart enforcement solutions to improve discipline and protect young lives,” Katushabe said.
Under the new measures, all drivers transporting learners will undergo mandatory vetting, possess valid driving licences and obtain an official Ministry-issued identification badge before being permitted to operate school transport vehicles.
The Ministry of Education and Sports also announced immediate regulatory actions aimed at safeguarding learners.
Speaking on behalf of the ministry, spokesperson Denis Mugimba said all schools have already been issued with the Basic Requirements and Minimum Standards for Schools, which now provide stricter guidelines governing school transport.
He said every vehicle transporting learners must hold a valid Private Motor Omnibus (PMO) licence with Inspection of Vehicles (IOV) certification, be mechanically roadworthy and be driven by a qualified driver holding the appropriate class of valid driving permit.
Mugimba further announced the immediate suspension of all school study trips and educational tours until further notice, allowing government to undertake wider consultations and formulate comprehensive long-term safety interventions.
“Among the immediate measures announced is the suspension of school study trips and tours until further notice, while the Government undertakes broader consultations and develops long-term interventions to prevent the recurrence of incidents involving learners,” he said.
The conference also highlighted the scale of Uganda’s road safety challenge.
According to the Traffic Annual Crime Report 2025, road crashes claim an average of 14 lives every day, including approximately two school-going children. Authorities identified speeding and reckless driving as the leading contributors to the country’s road fatalities.
Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura said police will intensify enforcement operations targeting traffic violations, with particular focus on route compliance by school transport operators.
He added that the Uganda Police Force will expand the use of smart enforcement tools, including the Express Penalty System (EPS), to improve compliance with traffic regulations and reduce dangerous driving behaviour.
Technology is also expected to play a greater role in the new safety strategy.
Steven Turyarugayo, Public Relations Consultant for the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS), said artificial intelligence-powered technologies will strengthen vehicle monitoring, improve enforcement and enhance accountability across the transport sector.
“Through our AI-powered technology, EPS can support improved vehicle identification, monitoring and enforcement while providing relevant authorities with better tools to promote compliance and accountability. We therefore believe that the Express Penalty System is what will bring social behaviour change on the roads for the safety of our school-going children,” Turyarugayo said.
Participants at the conference agreed that reducing road fatalities involving learners will require coordinated action across government institutions, schools, transport operators and parents. They called for stricter inspections, responsible driving, tougher enforcement and wider adoption of intelligent transport technologies to ensure children travel safely to and from school.
The newly announced measures form part of the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen road safety and restore public confidence in school transport following one of the country’s deadliest crashes involving learners in recent years.
