Uganda High Court: Biometric Driver Checks Mandatory for Public Service Buses

• The Ugandan government has introduced new regulations on public service buses and school transport, including mandatory vehicle inspections and biometric driver identification.
• The measures are aimed at addressing concerns over vehicle safety, driver fatigue, and enforcement of transport regulations.
• Compliance with the new requirements will be crucial for companies operating in this sector to avoid penalties and reputational damage.

The new rules include mandatory vehicle inspections, biometric driver identification, stricter working-hour limits, and the closure of illegal bus parks.

The Ugandan government has introduced a raft of measures to tighten regulations on public service buses and school transport, following a series of fatal crashes involving buses and schoolchildren. The new rules include mandatory vehicle inspections, biometric driver identification, stricter working-hour limits, and the closure of illegal bus parks. These changes are aimed at addressing concerns over vehicle safety, driver fatigue, and enforcement of transport regulations. According to Works and Transport Minister Fred Byamukama, the measures were announced on August 17, 2026, after a series of fatal crashes raised fresh concerns about road safety.

The new regulations are part of ongoing reforms in Uganda's road transport sector. The Ministry of Works and Transport has been examining road safety failures and non-compliance with existing regulations, including the use of unlicensed buses, unaccredited drivers, mechanical defects, and weak enforcement. In July, the ministry proposed an electronic clocking-in system for public service vehicle drivers to help monitor fatigue. The government is also upgrading its automated licensing system to introduce biometric driver log-ins that will link individual drivers to the vehicles they operate.

The new regulations have significant implications for lawyers and compliance officers advising clients in the public service bus industry. The mandatory vehicle inspections, biometric driver checks, and stricter working-hour limits are designed to improve road safety and reduce the risk of accidents. Compliance with these new requirements will be crucial for companies operating in this sector to avoid penalties and reputational damage. The reforms also aim to address concerns over driver fatigue, which has emerged as a major road safety concern.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the new requirements for public service buses in Uganda, including mandatory vehicle inspections, biometric driver checks, and stricter working-hour limits, to ensure their clients' vehicles are compliant with the new regulations.

Source: Original reporting via Govt Tightens Bus Rules, Orders New Driver and Route Checks