Kampala, Uganda: Police have arrested and detained two school bus drivers after they were found dangerously overloading buses transporting pupils of St. Kizito Primary School during a traffic operation in Kampala.
According to Traffic Police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura, the buses were intercepted on Friday at Golf Course in Kampala during an enforcement operation targeting school transport safety.
The suspects have been identified as Kimbugwe Alia, the driver of bus registration number UA 092AS, and Mutesasira Abubakari, the driver of motor vehicle registration number UAN 619X.
Police said Kimbugwe was found transporting 110 pupils, while Mutesasira was carrying 97 pupils, numbers authorities described as dangerously exceeding safe passenger capacity.
“Police at Central Police Station (CPS) has arrested and detained two school bus drivers for dangerously overloading buses transporting pupils of St. Kizito Primary School to a tour.”
The two drivers have since been charged with relevant traffic offences and are being held at Central Police Station (CPS), Kampala, pending their appearance before court.
“Police is working with the school management to ensure pupils are safely transported to their destination using appropriate means of transport.”
The arrests come a day after a devastating school bus crash in Kapchorwa District claimed the lives of 21 people, including 20 pupils and one adult, prompting nationwide concern over learner transport safety.
Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Education and Sports suspended all school trips and educational excursions across the country pending a comprehensive review of safety guidelines.
SP Kananura said the Uganda Police Force is collaborating with relevant stakeholders to strengthen regulations governing school transport.
“Meanwhile, Uganda Police together with other key stakeholders is working on the guidelines aimed at improving the safety of school transportation to minimize the increasing number of road crashes involving school children. This will be communicated in due course once the consultative process is concluded.”
The latest enforcement action signals a heightened crackdown on traffic violations involving school transport as authorities seek to prevent further tragedies involving learners.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
