Government Suspends Driving Standards Agency Operations After Bus Drivers Fallout

What the report says

The Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda has suspended the operations of the Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) while investigations into the agency’s activities continue, according to Nile Post. The decision followed talks with bus drivers and their representatives, who had been threatening industrial action over the cost and administration of driver badge renewals and refresher training.

The meeting was chaired by Winstone Katushabe, the commissioner for transport regulation and safety. The ministry said it would review the refresher training framework and the recognition of approved training companies, while also reaffirming that driver badges remain free and that renewals will be handled online. It also said drivers with expired badges would be given a temporary arrangement, provided their names are submitted and they have completed the required training.

The Uganda Bus Drivers Association had warned that its members could stop work if the concerns were not addressed, citing financial pressure on drivers and calling for training that is affordable and practical. The ministry said it had not yet been told whether the planned strike would be formally withdrawn, but it welcomed the decision to pursue dialogue instead of immediate industrial action.

The ministry asked the drivers to submit a written list of concerns and proposals within a week and said another meeting would be held within the same period. It also announced plans for quarterly consultations with drivers nationwide. The suspension of UDSA was one of the most significant outcomes of the talks, though the ministry did not say which specific activities were under review or how long the suspension would last.