The Uganda Bus Owners Association (UBOA) has called for greater dialogue and consultation in the transport sector following the suspension of YY Coaches by the Ministry of Works and Transport, in the wake of two fatal bus crashes.
The Ministry, through State Minister for Works and Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama, announced a 15-day suspension of the company’s operations, citing safety violations and inadequate compliance with existing transport regulations. The crashes, which occurred in Buikwe and along the Kampala–Yumbe highway, claimed at least four lives and left more than 40 passengers hospitalized.
Hon. Byamukama expressed alarm over what he described as a worsening road safety situation, especially among long-distance operators. “The road is not safe,” he said while addressing the media in Kampala. “Over-speeding has become a silent killer. Most of these crashes we are registering, like the one in Katosi and another in Nyago near Karuma, have been caused by excessive speed.”
In the Katosi crash, the minister said preliminary investigations showed the bus driver was speeding and lost control while trying to dodge a boda boda. The vehicle overturned and caught fire, leading to multiple fatalities and loss of property. Authorities are also probing whether the bus was illegally transporting flammable liquids, including waragi, which may have fueled the blaze. “If this turns out true, it is a gross violation because carrying such substances is prohibited,” he warned.
YY Coaches must now fulfill several conditions before being allowed back on the road. These include comprehensive testing of all drivers, full inspection of the fleet, verification of drivers’ appointment letters, and submission of refresher training schedules. “If they fail to meet at least 40% of these requirements,” Byamukama cautioned, “we may consider suspending them permanently.”
However, the Uganda Bus Owners Association has pushed back against the suspension, calling for more structured engagement with operators instead of what they describe as “a blame game.”
Speaking on behalf of UBOA, the association’s Secretary General defended their position. “We tell you our buses are licensed every year and operate after inspections from the ministry and the police. Our drivers are vetted and licensed by the same institutions,” he said. “So why should a company or the entire association be suspended for the actions of a driver who was cleared by government systems?”
The association insists the solution to rising road carnage lies in consistent consultation and policy engagement. “We don’t want the blame game, but we want more consultation,” he added, noting that buses under their association serve long routes like Mbarara, Lira, and Kotido, transporting thousands daily and generating an average of 300,000 shillings per day.
Meanwhile, Hon. Byamukama reaffirmed government’s commitment to road safety and highlighted that overspeeding and poor vehicle maintenance account for the bulk of Uganda’s traffic fatalities. He acknowledged the role of potholes but said they are responsible for only about 20 percent of accidents.
The minister also revealed that some transport operators, including YY drivers, have reportedly gone to court to challenge medical fitness rules, particularly the age limit for bus drivers. “We say when you’re 65 and above, it’s safer to retire from driving buses,” he said.
The YY suspension has reignited the broader debate on accountability, regulation, and shared responsibility in Uganda’s public transport sector.
