The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), in collaboration with Traffic Police, has announced measures to streamline bus driver badge processing, strengthen road safety monitoring and address alleged extortion at checkpoints following a meeting with bus drivers.
The meeting, chaired by Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winstone Katushabe, followed an earlier engagement in which drivers were invited to present challenges affecting their operations. Key concerns included delays in obtaining driver badges, training, extortion along transport routes, interstate bus operations and the need for a unified association to represent drivers’ interests.
Under the new measures, bus drivers without a previous accident record will have their badges processed within one day, free of charge. The ministry also plans to introduce an online badge renewal system within four months, enabling drivers to renew their credentials remotely without travelling to its offices.
To improve compliance with approved route charts and strengthen accountability, the ministry will introduce a biometric monitoring system. Each bus operating a return journey will also be required to have three drivers. Meanwhile, MoWT, working with Uganda Police, will address reported extortion at checkpoints, including the deployment of hidden cameras to investigate alleged misconduct.
The meeting was attended by Traffic Police Director AIGP Lawrence Niwabiine, Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV) officials and Workers’ Member of Parliament Hon. Phiona Nakku. Drivers were urged to unite under one umbrella association to improve coordination and representation, while the ministry committed to holding quarterly engagements to review emerging challenges, discuss solutions and communicate developments in the transport sector.
