The Uganda Police Force has warned school administrators, transport operators and drivers against violating road safety regulations as schools begin breaking off for the holiday.
Through the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, Police said all vehicles transporting students to designated pick-up points must comply with existing traffic laws and safety requirements to prevent accidents and protect children.
Police said schools that use buses to transport students must ensure that the vehicles are properly licensed, roadworthy and operated by qualified drivers.
“We are aware that some schools use buses to transport students to designated pick-up points, where they are collected by their parents or guardians. All such journeys must comply with the law and existing road safety guidelines,”Police said.
According to the traffic guidelines, school buses operating outside their usual authorised routes must obtain the necessary permission from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Police also directed schools and transport operators to ensure that all vehicles have valid inspection reports and meet all applicable vehicle inspection requirements before being used to transport students.
The Directorate further said school transport journeys must only be undertaken between 6:00am and 6:00pm.
“Vehicles must have all mandatory documentation and requirements, including valid PSV documentation, PMO, driver badges, valid driving licences and any other applicable documents,”Police said.
Drivers have also been warned against speeding, dangerous overtaking, overloading, dangerous loading, reckless driving and other traffic violations while transporting students.
Police said vehicles other than designated school buses that are used to transport students must also be mechanically sound, properly licensed and operated in accordance with all traffic and safety requirements.
The force warned that individuals and operators who violate the requirements will face arrest and prosecution.
“Any person found violating these requirements will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law and existing guidelines,”the statement said.
Police emphasised that ensuring the safety of children on the roads is a shared responsibility involving school owners and administrators, transport operators, drivers, parents and guardians.
“The responsibility for protecting children on our roads rests with all of us. School owners and administrators, transport operators, drivers, parents and guardians must each play their part in ensuring that children are transported safely,”Police said.
The Directorate also cautioned schools and transport operators against treating official clearance or permission for a journey as an exemption from other road safety requirements.
Police said permission to operate a particular journey does not remove the obligation to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy, properly licensed and driven by qualified drivers.
“The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety will continue to conduct intelligence-led and targeted enforcement operations to ensure that vehicles transporting children are safe, roadworthy and operated in accordance with the law,”the statement said.
The warning comes as schools enter the holiday period, when increased movement of students and families is expected on the country’s roads.
Police said their priority remains the protection of life and urged everyone involved in school transportation to put children’s safety ahead of convenience.
“Our priority remains the protection of life. We therefore urge everyone involved in school transportation to comply with the law and put the safety of children first. Where there is non-compliance, the law will take its course,”Police said.
