Uganda Police: PSV Blue Strip, Roof Luggage Enforcement Impounds Taxis

• Ugandan authorities launched a joint traffic and Ministry of Works and Transport operation on the Kampala-Gulu Highway.
• Commuter taxis were impounded for lacking the mandatory blue strip and carrying roof luggage, among other violations.
• ACP Norman Musinga, Deputy Director of Traffic and Road Safety, led the enforcement, which also targeted buses and heavy trucks.
• At least 14 drivers were arrested for various offences, including speeding, overloading, and driving without permits.
• The crackdown is a response to Uganda's 26,044 road crashes in 2025, a 3.7% increase from the prior year.

This rigorous enforcement initiative is a direct response to persistent concerns regarding Uganda's escalating road safety record.

Ugandan authorities have initiated a stringent enforcement drive targeting public service vehicles (PSVs), leading to the impoundment of numerous commuter taxis and the arrest of their drivers along the Kampala-Gulu Highway. This operation, a joint effort by the traffic police and the Ministry of Works and Transport, specifically focused on vehicles found without the mandatory blue strip and those carrying roof luggage, a direct violation of established PSV regulations. Led by ACP Norman Musinga, the Deputy Director of Traffic and Road Safety, the comprehensive checks were conducted at the Matugga checkpoint, extending a series of prompt operations that commenced last week on the Kampala-Masaka Highway.

During the enforcement action, a variety of vehicles, including taxis, buses, and heavy trucks, were subjected to scrutiny, resulting in multiple impoundments and driver arrests. Drivers who attempted to request additional time to produce necessary documentation, such as valid driving permits, were denied and instructed to park their vehicles by the roadside, awaiting breakdown services. The primary targets for impoundment included commuter taxis, often referred to as "drones," which were found transporting passengers while lacking the required blue stripe. Furthermore, many of the arrested drivers were operating taxis that were carrying luggage on their roofs in addition to passengers, a practice explicitly prohibited under current traffic laws. This renewed Uganda PSV blue strip roof luggage enforcement highlights a significant push for compliance on the nation's major thoroughfares.

The intensified crackdown is rooted in existing Uganda traffic police PSV regulations designed to ensure road safety and operational standards for public transport. Allan Ssempebwa, the Communications Officer for the Ministry of Works and Transport, clarified that the ongoing exercise is specifically designed to address the prevalence of unqualified drivers, vehicles deemed to be in dangerous mechanical condition, and generally unroadworthy vehicles. He highlighted that a significant number of the impounded vehicles were commuter taxis operating without the mandatory blue stripe, a requirement that is explicitly illegal to bypass. Ssempebwa underscored the growing concern over these non-compliant vehicles, noting their increasing presence on Ugandan roads.

He further elaborated that these vehicles, while offering taxi services, frequently fail to meet the necessary operational standards, contributing to fatal accidents and even being implicated in robberies. The blue stripe, he stressed, is a fundamental prerequisite for all vehicles engaged in passenger transport, serving as a clear identifier of compliance. Such non-compliant practices, Ssempebwa affirmed, will no longer be tolerated by the authorities. Reinforcing this stance, SP Michael Kananura, the Traffic Police Spokesperson, confirmed that carrying luggage on the roof of a taxi while transporting passengers constitutes a direct violation of traffic laws under the prevailing PSV regulations. The operation also extended its scope to buses and heavy trucks on major highways, verifying their adherence to safety standards, thereby reinforcing the broader Uganda Ministry of Works Transport compliance efforts.

This rigorous enforcement initiative is a direct response to persistent concerns regarding Uganda's escalating road safety record. The annual traffic police report for 2025 revealed a troubling statistic: the country experienced 26,044 road crashes, marking a 3.7 percent increase compared to the preceding year. This upward trend in accidents underscores the critical need for a comprehensive Uganda road safety crackdown, making the current operations a vital component of a national strategy to mitigate road fatalities and injuries.

The authorities have made it clear that these surprise operations are not isolated incidents but will continue across major highways. Motorists are being explicitly warned to ensure that both their driving documents and their vehicles are in full compliance with all legal and inspection requirements. Beyond the specific violations of the Uganda commuter taxi blue strip requirement and roof luggage prohibitions, the operation has also led to the arrest of at least 14 drivers for a range of other serious traffic offences. These include speeding, overloading, driving without valid permits and badges, operating mechanically defective vehicles, and violating designated route charts. The arrested individuals are currently being held at Matugga Police Station, awaiting their arraignment in court on these various traffic charges, with the enforcement efforts slated to move next to the Kampala-Jinja Highway.

Lawyers advising transport companies and PSV operators in Uganda should urgently counsel clients to ensure strict compliance with PSV regulations, specifically the mandatory blue strip for commuter taxis and prohibitions on roof luggage, to mitigate risks of vehicle impoundment, driver arrests, and prosecution for traffic offences under this renewed, stringent enforcement drive.

Source: Original reporting via Independent (Kampala).