Africa-Press – Uganda. The Ministry of Works and Transport is preparing to introduce a biometric driver management system for passenger buses in a major road safety overhaul aimed at curbing speeding, driver fatigue and reckless driving following a rise in fatal road crashes.
The new system, currently in its pilot phase, will require bus drivers to log in biometrically before every journey, allowing authorities to monitor driving hours, travel times and compliance with safety regulations in real time.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, Winston Katushabe, during a surprise inspection of bus parks in Kampala conducted jointly with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Uganda Police Force.
Katushabe said the technology is intended to address one of the biggest contributors to road crashes — driver fatigue — by preventing operators from working beyond legally recommended hours.
“We are coming up with a new system which is now in the initial stages of being tested, where we shall have biometric login for drivers,” Katushabe said.
He explained that once a driver logs in before departure, the system will generate a digital record that can be verified by police officers at checkpoints through biometric authentication.
“The police will be able to verify the driver through biometric checking. If a driver leaves Kampala at a particular time, we know approximately when they should reach the next checkpoint. If they arrive much earlier than expected, that could indicate speeding,” he said.
The Commissioner said the system will also help identify drivers who fail to take mandatory rest breaks.
He cited cases where drivers complete long-distance journeys and immediately take on another trip without adequate rest, a practice that has been linked to fatigue-related crashes.
“If a driver has travelled from Mbale to Kampala, the system should not allow the same person to immediately drive another bus to Soroti when they are supposed to be resting,” Katushabe said.
Officials say the biometric platform will create a digital record of every driver’s movements, making it easier for enforcement agencies to identify repeat offenders and hold both drivers and bus operators accountable for violations.
The planned rollout comes as government intensifies efforts to improve passenger transport safety following several fatal crashes involving buses in recent months.
Earlier this month, a school bus carrying pupils from King David Junior School crashed in Kapchorwa, killing 24 people, including school-going children, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations.
Days before that tragedy, another passenger bus was involved in a fatal collision in northern Uganda, further raising concerns over speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and driver behaviour.
During the Kampala inspection, ministry officials found some buses operating without valid Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences, route charts and other mandatory documents.
Several operators were ordered off the road until they complied with transport regulations, while one bus was directed to undergo a mandatory mechanical inspection before returning to service.
Katushabe said technology alone will not solve Uganda’s road safety challenges but will strengthen enforcement by providing accurate information on drivers’ conduct.
He added that the ministry is working with KCCA, the police and bus park management to improve compliance with transport regulations and eliminate illegal practices such as the use of unregistered brokers at passenger terminals.
“We believe this system will help us deal with issues of driver fatigue, speeding and driver behaviour. Ultimately, it is about ensuring passengers travel safely,” he said.
The biometric system is expected to be rolled out after completion of the pilot phase, with training planned for bus operators, park management and traffic police before nationwide implementation.
