The Government of Uganda has announced sweeping new measures aimed at improving the safety of learners on the country’s roads following the tragic King David Junior School bus accident in Kapchorwa District that claimed the lives of more than 20 children and left several others injured.
Among the most significant directives is a new requirement ordering all education institutions to paint vehicles used for transporting learners yellow or risk having those buses removed from operation until they comply with the new regulations.
The announcement was made during a joint ministerial press conference attended by officials from the Ministries of Education and Sports, Works and Transport, ICT, and other government agencies at the Uganda Media Centre.
Acting Minister of Education and Sports, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, said the new policy is intended to create a uniform standard for school transport across the country while making school buses easily identifiable by other road users.
“We are moving to enforce a standard that many countries already follow. School transport vehicles should be painted yellow so they are instantly recognisable on the road,” Dr. Muyingo said while explaining the government’s decision.
According to the directive, every institution transporting learners, including nursery schools, kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, vocational institutions, universities and private schools, will be required to comply with the new colour requirement.
Government officials said the move forms part of broader reforms aimed at preventing future road tragedies involving school children after a series of accidents that have shaken the nation in recent days.
In addition to the colour requirement, the government announced the immediate suspension of all school trips and educational tours involving group travel by road both within Uganda and outside the country until further notice.
Schools whose learners were already travelling at the time of the directive were instructed to report to the nearest police station so that security agencies could coordinate their safe return under police supervision.
Authorities also introduced tougher requirements for drivers responsible for transporting learners, saying only drivers cleared by the Ministry of Works and Transport will be allowed to transport large groups of students.
Government further announced that all Public Service Vehicle drivers involved in school transport will be required to carry official government identification badges while on duty.
Another major measure requires every school vehicle to undergo a comprehensive mechanical inspection before being permitted to transport learners on any educational trip or long-distance journey.
Officials stressed that no school trip will be authorised unless the respective District Education Officer issues written approval after verifying that all safety requirements have been met.
The government also revealed that an inter-ministerial committee has been established to develop stricter licensing regulations specifically governing vehicles used to transport children across Uganda.
Enforcement of the new measures will be carried out jointly by the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and the Uganda Police Traffic Directorate to ensure full compliance.
Leaders said the reforms are intended to strengthen accountability among schools, transport operators and drivers while reducing the risk of preventable accidents involving learners.
The new directives come after growing public concern over the increasing number of school transport accidents that have occurred in different parts of the country within a short period, leading to calls for tougher safety standards.
Parents, education stakeholders and road safety advocates have largely welcomed the government’s intervention, expressing hope that stricter regulations will help protect learners during school-related travel.
Officials have urged all school proprietors and administrators to begin preparing for the implementation of the new requirements immediately, warning that institutions that fail to comply with the regulations could face disciplinary action, including suspension of their transport services.
As investigations into the Kapchorwa tragedy continue, the government says learner safety remains its top priority and insists that the newly announced measures are intended to prevent similar heartbreaking incidents from occurring in the future.
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