Bus Drivers Demand Tougher Road Safety Measures After Spate of Fatal Crashes

What the report says

Nile Post reported that the Bus Drivers Advocacy Forum Uganda (BDAFU) is pressing for urgent road safety reforms after a series of fatal bus crashes in different parts of the country. The forum cited recent incidents in Mukono on the Namumira–Katosi Road, at Bobi on the Gulu Highway, at Bukoma on the Mbale–Tirinyi Road, and a latest crash in Kapchorwa, saying the deaths and injuries show the need for faster action.

According to the report, BDAFU wants stronger enforcement of traffic rules, compulsory vehicle inspections, improved driver training and more direct participation by bus drivers and other transport stakeholders in policy decisions. The group said weaknesses in enforcement, poor road infrastructure, limited training, risky road-user conduct and inadequate emergency response after crashes continue to endanger passengers despite existing road safety policy efforts.

BDAFU National Chairperson Kakaire Umaru offered condolences to families of those killed and injured, and said passenger safety should remain a priority. He also urged government to involve the forum in driver recruitment, training and retention processes so that public service vehicles are handled by qualified and competent drivers.

The call matters because buses are a major form of intercity and regional transport in Uganda, and repeated crashes can undermine public confidence in the sector. Nile Post reported that BDAFU pledged to promote professionalism and accountability, while calling for closer cooperation between government agencies, drivers and industry players to improve safety.