Dalton Elijah
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 19, 2022
- 963
- 1,978
The Ministry of Works and Transport has suspended the operations of the Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) pending investigations into its activities, following complaints from bus drivers over badge renewals and refresher training requirements.
The decision was announced after a meeting chaired by Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winstone Katushabe in Kampala on Monday, October 12.
The talks followed a notice issued last week by the United Bus Drivers Association (UBDA), threatening to withdraw driving services and park buses from Monday over what it described as mounting financial and administrative burdens
The operations of Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) have been suspended to allow for investigations into its activities,” the ministry’s communications team said in a statement.
The ministry did not specify how long the suspension would last.
In its industrial action notice, UBDA said drivers faced difficulties relating to the validity and renewal of driver badges, alongside associated refresher training requirements and costs.
“The current arrangement places a significant financial burden on drivers whose salaries do not adequately support recurring annual costs,” the association said.
It backed road safety training but called for an affordable framework developed in consultation with drivers.
“Our position is that road-safety training should be strengthened, but it should also be practical, affordable and designed in consultation with the professional drivers who operate Uganda’s roads every day,” UBDA said.
The decision was announced after a meeting chaired by Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winstone Katushabe in Kampala on Monday, October 12.
The talks followed a notice issued last week by the United Bus Drivers Association (UBDA), threatening to withdraw driving services and park buses from Monday over what it described as mounting financial and administrative burdens
The operations of Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) have been suspended to allow for investigations into its activities,” the ministry’s communications team said in a statement.
The ministry did not specify how long the suspension would last.
In its industrial action notice, UBDA said drivers faced difficulties relating to the validity and renewal of driver badges, alongside associated refresher training requirements and costs.
“The current arrangement places a significant financial burden on drivers whose salaries do not adequately support recurring annual costs,” the association said.
It backed road safety training but called for an affordable framework developed in consultation with drivers.
“Our position is that road-safety training should be strengthened, but it should also be practical, affordable and designed in consultation with the professional drivers who operate Uganda’s roads every day,” UBDA said.
