The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced a 15-day suspension of YY Coaches’ operations, effective from 7 pm today, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
This decision follows two recent serious road crashes involving the bus company, including a fatal accident on the Mukono–Katosi–Jinja highway where three passengers died, and the bus caught fire.
According to a report by Nile Post, the suspension is detailed in a letter dated May 12, 2025, sent to the Managing Director of YY Coaches by the State Minister for Transport, Fred Byamukama. The minister cited the company’s failure to adequately control its drivers and raised “managerial concerns.” Preliminary investigations into both incidents indicate reckless driving as a significant contributing factor.
In the suspension letter, Minister Byamukama stated, “These two crashes point to recklessness by your drivers on the road and failure to control the conduct of your drivers, among other managerial concerns.”
The fatal crash occurred on May 5 in Najja village, Buikwe District. A YY Coaches bus, registration number UAV 701C, overturned and subsequently caught fire. Police confirmed three fatalities at the scene and have attributed the accident to the driver, who is currently at large.
A second incident involved another YY Coaches bus, registration number UAX 852F, which crashed at Ayango on the Pakwach–Arua highway while traveling to Yumbe. Police reports indicate that the driver lost control while attempting to overtake another vehicle, leading to a serious accident.
As a direct consequence of these incidents, the Ministry of Works and Transport has mandated a 15-day grounding of YY Coaches’ entire fleet to facilitate thorough investigations. During this suspension, the company is required to present all its buses for a joint safety inspection with the Uganda Police. Additionally, YY Coaches must provide comprehensive documentation for all its drivers, including verifiable proof of recent refresher training.
The ministry has also instructed YY Coaches to present the specific drivers involved in the two crashes and to issue a public statement explaining the circumstances of the accidents and outlining the measures the company will implement to prevent future occurrences.
The suspension of YY Coaches will have a significant impact on long-distance travel across Uganda. The company operates extensively in the eastern, northern, and northwestern regions, connecting Kampala to major towns such as Arua, Yumbe, Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, Moroto, Kaabong, Mbale, Soroti, Busia, Malaba, and Kotido. YY Coaches also provides cross-border services to Nimule and Juba in South Sudan and maintains a strong presence on the Arua and Karamoja transport corridors, frequently operating night and early-morning services for both passengers and cargo.
This 15-day suspension marks another instance of regulatory action against YY Coaches due to safety issues. In August 2019, the company voluntarily suspended its operations following a series of crashes that resulted in 14 deaths within two weeks. At that time, the company held a crisis meeting with its staff and pledged to improve internal safety controls.
Subsequently, in August 2020, police intervened again after three separate crashes involving YY Coaches buses occurred within a single week. Authorities ordered all the company’s drivers to undergo mandatory re-testing before the company was allowed to resume services. Earlier, in 2017, the Transport Licensing Board impounded thirteen of YY Coaches’ buses in Jinja for failing to comply with a mandatory digital route monitoring system.
Despite its history of safety concerns, YY Coaches remains one of the busiest long-distance bus operators in Uganda. Authorities have emphasized that this latest suspension is a necessary measure to protect passenger lives and to compel the company to prioritize and fulfill its safety obligations seriously. As of Monday night, YY Coaches had not yet issued any official public response to the announced suspension.
