KAMPALA, UGANDA — The Uganda Police Force has warned school administrators, transport operators, drivers, parents, guardians and students to prioritise road safety as schools begin breaking off for the holiday.
Through the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, police said all school transportation must comply with the law and existing road safety guidelines to protect children from road crashes and other dangers during the holiday travel period.
Police noted that some schools use buses to transport students to designated pick-up points, where they are collected by their parents or guardians. It stressed that all such journeys must be conducted in accordance with established safety requirements.
According to the police, school buses operating outside their usual authorised routes must obtain the necessary permission from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
The vehicles must also have valid inspection reports and comply with all applicable vehicle inspection requirements.
Police further directed that all school transport journeys must be undertaken between 6:00am and 6:00pm, in line with applicable road safety requirements.
School transport operators have also been reminded to ensure that vehicles carry all mandatory documentation, including valid Public Service Vehicle (PSV) documentation, PMO, driver badges, valid driving licences and any other applicable documents.
Drivers have been warned to strictly observe traffic laws and regulations, particularly against speeding, dangerous overtaking, overloading, dangerous loading, reckless driving and other traffic violations.
Police said any other vehicles used to transport students, other than designated school buses, must be mechanically sound, properly licensed and operated in full compliance with traffic regulations and applicable safety requirements.
The Force warned that individuals found violating the requirements will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law and existing guidelines.
Police emphasised that protecting children on Uganda’s roads is a shared responsibility requiring the cooperation of school owners and administrators, transport operators, drivers, parents and guardians.
“The responsibility for protecting children on our roads rests with all of us,” police said, urging all stakeholders to play their part in ensuring that children travel safely during the holiday period.
The warning comes as schools across the country begin releasing learners for the holiday, a period that typically sees increased movement of children and families on the roads.
Police urged all road users to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and make the safety of children a priority throughout the holiday travel period.
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