KAMPALA – Police have arrested two school bus drivers accused of dangerously overloading buses with pupils during a traffic enforcement operation in Kampala, as authorities intensify efforts to improve the safety of school transport following the recent fatal bus crash in Kapchorwa.
The drivers, identified as Kimbugwe Alia and Mutesasira Abubakari, were intercepted on Friday, July 17, at the Golf Course traffic checkpoint while transporting pupils from St. Kizito Primary School who were travelling for an educational tour.
According to police, Kimbugwe, who was driving bus registration UA 092AS, was found carrying 110 pupils, while Mutesasira, the driver of bus registration UAN 619X, had 97 pupils on board.
Police described the alleged overloading as a serious violation of road safety regulations and a major risk to the lives of the children.
The two drivers were immediately arrested and are currently being held at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS). They are expected to be arraigned in court to face traffic-related charges.
Authorities said they are working closely with the management of St. Kizito Primary School to arrange alternative transport so that the pupils can continue their journey safely.
The arrests come amid heightened enforcement of school transport regulations following the fatal school bus crash in Kapchorwa, which claimed the lives of more than 20 people, including pupils from King David Junior School, Ndejje, who were returning from an educational tour.
In response to the tragedy, Acting Minister of Education and Sports Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo suspended all school trips and educational excursions across the country pending a comprehensive review of school transport safety standards.
Police say the ongoing review is expected to introduce stricter measures, including mandatory compliance with passenger capacity limits, regular inspection of school buses, and enhanced oversight of transport operators contracted by schools.
Friday’s operation underscores the Uganda Police Force’s renewed commitment to enforcing traffic laws and ensuring the safety of learners on the country’s roads.
Authorities have warned school administrators, transport operators, and drivers against violating road safety regulations, emphasizing that anyone found endangering the lives of pupils will face the full force of the law.
