The Ministry of Works and Transport has introduced new operational guidelines for public service bus operators to mitigate driver fatigue and lower traffic accidents nationwide.
Minister for Works and Transport Hon. Fred Byamukama announced the directives following a stakeholder meeting with bus operators, transport union leadership, and the Traffic Police at the ministry headquarters.
Under the new regulatory directive, bus operators must deploy a relief driver for return journeys exceeding 300 kilometers. Any driver completing an outward trip over this distance is prohibited from driving the vehicle back on the same day.
The Traffic Police have been instructed to enforce compliance and arrest operators or drivers found violating the distance restriction.
For shorter routes spanning under 300 kilometers, a single driver may complete one round trip. However, drivers must terminate service upon return to the initial departure terminal and are banned from undertaking a third leg within the same 24-hour period.
Ministry officials emphasized that strict adherence to the new travel thresholds will safeguard passengers and promote professional driving standards across national transport corridors.
