The Ministry of Works and Transport (Department of Transport Regulation and Safety) together with Traffic Police today met bus drivers to discuss public transport and road safety.
Chaired by Commissioner Transport Regulation and Safety, Mr. Winstone Katushabe, the meeting followed an earlier engagement where drivers were asked to present challenges affecting their work.
Key issues raised included processing of driver badges, training, extortion along various routes, interstate bus services, and the need to organize drivers under one umbrella body.
The meeting was attended by Traffic Police Director, AIGP Lawrence Niwabiine, staff from the Inspectorate of Vehicles (IOV), and Workers MP Hon. Phiona Nakku.
Key Resolutions:
- Bus drivers without a previous record of being involved in accidents will get their badges in one day free of charge.
- In about 4 months, the ministry will a rollout a renewal solution where Bus Drivers will be able to access the badge online without having to travel to the MoWT.
- To monitor adherence to route charts, MoWT will introduce a biometric monitoring system. Each bus on a return route must have three drivers.
- MoWT, working with Uganda Police, will address extortion at checkpoints, including deploying hidden cameras to investigate reported cases.
- Drivers were advised to unite under one umbrella association for better coordination.