Archival Sense
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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The Ministry of Works and Transport has revealed that three of the four buses involved in recent major road crashes across Uganda were not licensed to operate because they had failed mechanical inspections.
Appearing before Parliament's Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Commissioner for Transport Regulation Winston Katushabe said one of the buses involved in the deadly Kapchorwa crash had previously been rejected due to its poor mechanical condition but was still operating on the road.
Katushabe also disclosed that authorities have not yet identified the driver who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
Winston Katushabe (courtesy photo)
"The bus operator could not identify the person who was driving the bus at the time, and the bus was not licensed. It is one of the buses that had been rejected because of its mechanical condition," he told the committee.
According to the ministry, the bus's last operating licence expired on June 18, 2026, under its old registration number. Although it later obtained a new digital number plate, it had not been cleared to operate.
The committee heard that the Kapchorwa crash claimed 24 lives and left 95 people injured. Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver was speeding, failed to negotiate a corner and was unfamiliar with the route. The poor mechanical condition of the bus is also believed to have contributed to the crash.
Katushabe further revealed that the bus was transporting pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje, Makindye Division, but did not have the required clearance from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Katushabe also revealed that the crash that occurred at the railway crossing in Mukono district on 10th July 2026 involved a bus belonging to Friendship Coaches registered under the DFCU Bank driven and was being driven by Christopher Kikomeko aged 48 years, whose license expired in August 2023 wasn’t meant to be on the road at the time of the crash.
In another crash involving learners, that occurred in Nawangisa in Bugweri district on 14th July 2026 involved a bus from Amuria High School limited bus and this was driven by Abdallah Kasakya, deceased, aged 68 years who was beyond the recommended age with Katushabe stating, “The school bus was not licenced and the bus driver was not accredited because he was over the permitted age of 60 years. The crash registered 20 fatalities in the bus and three fatalities in the truck and registered nine serious injuries.”
The revelations have raised fresh concerns over the enforcement of road safety regulations and how unroadworthy buses continue to operate despite failing government inspections.
Parliament watch
Appearing before Parliament's Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Commissioner for Transport Regulation Winston Katushabe said one of the buses involved in the deadly Kapchorwa crash had previously been rejected due to its poor mechanical condition but was still operating on the road.
Katushabe also disclosed that authorities have not yet identified the driver who was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
Winston Katushabe (courtesy photo)
"The bus operator could not identify the person who was driving the bus at the time, and the bus was not licensed. It is one of the buses that had been rejected because of its mechanical condition," he told the committee.
According to the ministry, the bus's last operating licence expired on June 18, 2026, under its old registration number. Although it later obtained a new digital number plate, it had not been cleared to operate.
The committee heard that the Kapchorwa crash claimed 24 lives and left 95 people injured. Preliminary investigations indicate that the driver was speeding, failed to negotiate a corner and was unfamiliar with the route. The poor mechanical condition of the bus is also believed to have contributed to the crash.
Katushabe further revealed that the bus was transporting pupils from King David Junior School in Ndejje, Makindye Division, but did not have the required clearance from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Katushabe also revealed that the crash that occurred at the railway crossing in Mukono district on 10th July 2026 involved a bus belonging to Friendship Coaches registered under the DFCU Bank driven and was being driven by Christopher Kikomeko aged 48 years, whose license expired in August 2023 wasn’t meant to be on the road at the time of the crash.
In another crash involving learners, that occurred in Nawangisa in Bugweri district on 14th July 2026 involved a bus from Amuria High School limited bus and this was driven by Abdallah Kasakya, deceased, aged 68 years who was beyond the recommended age with Katushabe stating, “The school bus was not licenced and the bus driver was not accredited because he was over the permitted age of 60 years. The crash registered 20 fatalities in the bus and three fatalities in the truck and registered nine serious injuries.”
The revelations have raised fresh concerns over the enforcement of road safety regulations and how unroadworthy buses continue to operate despite failing government inspections.
Parliament watch