The Government has announced plans to make it mandatory for all school transport vehicles across Uganda to be painted yellow as part of new road safety measures following the fatal King David Junior School bus crash in Kapchorwa.
In a joint government statement issued on Friday, the government said the standard yellow colour will make school vehicles easily identifiable on the road, improving safety and enforcement.
The new requirement will apply to all institutions transporting learners, including nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, universal education institutions, universities, and private schools.
The announcement forms part of a broader package of reforms introduced after the Kapchorwa accident, which claimed the lives of several pupils and left others injured.
Government also directed that every driver transporting large groups of learners must be cleared by the Ministry of Works and Transport and possess a valid Public Service Vehicle (PSV) government badge.
Authorities further ruled that no educational trip involving learners will be allowed without prior authorization from the respective District Education Officer.
To strengthen enforcement, an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been established to develop new licensing regulations for vehicles transporting children. The Ministry of Works and Transport, together with the Uganda Police Force’s Directorate of Traffic, will be responsible for ensuring compliance.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Sports has suspended all school study trips and tours involving group travel until further notice as investigations into the Kapchorwa crash continue.
The government said the new measures are intended to prevent similar tragedies and improve the safety of learners travelling on Uganda’s roads.
