What you need to know:
- The Ministry will also review the refresher training framework, including recognition of authorised training companies.
The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended the operations of the Uganda Driving Standards Agency to allow investigations into its activities, a day after drivers threatened a nationwide industrial strike over rising costs and administrative pressure to renew driver badges and complete refresher training every year.
‘’After consultation among members, United Bus Drivers Association (UBDA) has resolved that, effective Monday, 12 October 2026, members of the Association will temporarily withdraw their driving services and park the buses they operate as a collective form of peaceful industrial action until the Association’s concerns receive meaningful engagement and resolution.’’ The notice dated October 8 stated.
The association have extended their notice to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, and the general public of its move following ‘continuing challenges surrounding driver badges and the associated regulatory requirements.’
They pointed out increasing financial and administrative pressure being placed on them in relation to the validity and renewal of driver badges and associated training.
But during a meeting with representatives of the drivers under the Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDA) to iron out the matter, the Ministry of Works and Transport, through the commissioner for transport regulation and safety, Winstone Katushabe, slapped the association by suspending its operations pending investigations.
“The operations of Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDA) have been suspended to allow for investigations into its activities,” the October 12 statement issued by the Ministry of Works and Transport read in part.
According to the statement, the Ministry will also review the refresher training framework, including recognition of authorised training companies.
A refresher training framework is essential for maintaining drivers’ skills and knowledge. It establishes clear objectives for refresher training, such as compliance, safety, and performance improvement, among others.
The commissioner also directed that a temporary measure be enforced for drivers whose badges have expired and that renewal be done online, in addition to directing that all drivers whose badges have expired submit their badges, except for those who have undergone training.
The Uganda Driving Standards Alliance is a key player in the driving training and road safety education in Uganda, which was established in 2009 and licensed by the Ministry of Works and Transport to provide training for heavy goods vehicles, light goods vehicles, motorcycles, and driver consultancy.
UDSA aims to enhance road safety and deliver quality driver training services that comply with international standards.
Speaking to this publication on Tuesday, Mr Reagan Akankwasa, the Chairperson, Uganda Bus Drivers Association welcomed the resolutions of the meeting.
"The operations of UDSA in the beginning were okay and streamlined, but at a later time, we started getting cases of extorting money from the drivers of buses; they started giving out certificates to untrained people, which contributed a lot to the crashes and hindered road safety in Uganda, causing the loss of lives of Ugandans," he said.
Going forward, Mr Akankwasa implored the government to put in place a clear strategy for bus drivers, including a training school for bus drivers that will certify a professional bus driver.
"We want the government to institute a training school, the same way it has a training school for the forces, the UPDF, the police, the prison, etc. We need to be recognised like any other professionals in the transport industry, like Aviation," he added.