By KT Reporter
As the country braces for the festive rush season, the Uganda Professional Drivers Network -UPDN has launched four decisive declarations to curb road fatalities and elevate the safety standards of the country’s transport sector.
Uganda’s roads remain perilous, claiming between 4,650 and 5,000 lives annually, mostly young adults aged 18–40, according to the Uganda Police Force’s Traffic and Road Safety Department. The deaths not only devastate families but also strip the nation’s productive workforce, making systemic reforms quite urgent.
The declarations were presented by Brian Miyomba, Principal of Rabin Logistics Academy and lecturer at Macquarie University Business School, during the 4th Annual Professional Drivers Conference and Road Transport Stakeholders Awards at the Imperial Royal Hotel on December 4.
Miyomba stressed that fragmented training, poor vehicle maintenance, and inconsistent regulatory oversight underpin Uganda’s high crash and fatality rates.
“Every crash represents a human and economic loss we can prevent through professionalism and competence,” he said.
The first declaration advocates for a national training and qualification framework for drivers, featuring structured programs, mandatory competency-based certification, and accreditation for driving institutions. “Professional driving must be treated as a regulated technical vocation, critical to both road safety and economic growth,” Miyomba emphasized.
This initiative aligns with the Traffic and Road Safety Act, Cap 361, and complements theTVET Act of 2025, which promotes competency-based education and recognition of prior learning.
Moses Kasakya, Executive Director of the Technical Vocational Education and Training – TVET Council, noted that only 20% of drivers in Uganda’s oil and gas sector are local, with the rest imported due to limited local skills. He added: “Establishing standards for hard skills, like vehicle handling and defensive driving, as well as soft skills such as ethics and customer care, lays the foundation for a safer, more productive transport workforce.”
The second declaration calls for data-driven fleet management, real-time driver monitoring, fatigue controls, and professional codes of conduct for taxi operators, city services, and long-distance hauliers. Miyomba explained: “Discipline is not just about following rules; it’s about embedding a culture of responsibility and respect for human life.”
These measures complement amendments to the Traffic and Road Safety Act, which strengthen oversight of public transport, professional driver licensing, and operator compliance.
The third declaration urges government investments in climate-resilient corridors, enhanced maintenance, rest stops, clear signage, and redesigns of accident-prone black spots.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, praised the initiative, noting Uganda’s commitment to halve road fatalities by 2030 under the World Health Organization – WHO Decade of Action for Road Safety. The Minister emphasised ongoing reforms, including computerized driver testing centers and durable fibreglass road signs to reduce vandalism. “Transport is the engine of our economy, and without skilled drivers and safe roads, we cannot realize our growth aspirations,” Wamala said.
The fourth declaration focuses on professional recognition, social protection, and career pathways for drivers, who play a pivotal role in logistics, tourism, and the emerging oil and gas sector. Funding will come from government budgets, employer contributions, development partners, and training fees, ensuring sustainability.
Uganda’s transport sector serves as a regional logistics hub, yet inefficiencies in driver competence and road safety impose annual economic losses of UGX 1.3 trillion from reduced productivity, vehicle damages, and accident response costs. With human error accounting for over 70% of crashes, the UPDN declarations provide a comprehensive roadmap for reducing fatalities, enhancing professionalism, and boosting economic productivity.
“The declarations mark a collective commitment to transform Uganda’s transport into a disciplined, safe, and professional industry,” Miyomba concluded.
Kasakya added: “Through TVET reforms and continuous professional development, we are equipping Ugandans with skills and ethics to succeed nationally and internationally. Driving professionalism is a cornerstone of this vision.”
With expanded road networks, technology-driven licensing, and a professionalized workforce, Uganda’s transport sector is poised for a transformative era, one that prioritizes safety, competence, and respect for human life amid growing urbanization and regional trade demands.
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