By The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended operations of YY Coaches for 15 days following two road crashes in just two weeks, one of which claimed multiple lives.
Addressing the press on Tuesday in Kampala, State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama cited reckless driving and suspected safety violations as the primary reasons behind the suspension, which takes effect immediately from today 13th May 7:00 p.m.
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“In just two weeks, YY has been involved in two major accidents. One, on Katosi Road, was fatal. The other occurred near Karuma in Ayako Village, leaving several passengers with serious injuries,” said Byamukama.
The minister revealed that preliminary investigations by the Transport Regulation Unit and the Uganda Police Traffic Department indicate that both accidents were caused by speeding.
“In the Katosi incident, the driver was reportedly overspeeding when he encountered a boda boda on the road. He lost control, and the bus overturned, caught fire, and people died,” Byamukama narrated. “One passenger is still unaccounted for. Only his luggage and documents have been identified, suggesting he may have been a former Mbale staff commissioner.”
The Katosi bus crash also raised concerns about possible safety violations after reports emerged that the bus may have been transporting flammable liquids such as waragi strictly prohibited on public buses. The minister said investigations into this are ongoing.
In addition to the suspension, the government has imposed a set of strict requirements on YY Coaches that must be fulfilled before the company resumes operations. These include mandatory driver testing, vehicle inspection, and submission of appointment letters to verify that drivers accredited by the Ministry are the ones actually deployed.
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“They must present their entire fleet for inspection to determine roadworthiness, and all drivers must undergo retesting through a joint task force of the Ministry and Uganda Police,” Byamukama said. “We also want to review their driver training schedules and protocols.”
He criticized bus company owners for evading responsibility and shifting blame solely to drivers. “The companies just replace a driver and continue. That’s not acceptable. These owners must be held accountable for their operations.”
YY Coaches, one of Uganda’s most prominent bus companies, has yet to release an official statement in response to the suspension. However, the minister emphasized that enforcement would be strict and the suspension would only be lifted after the company fulfills all requirements.
