The government has announced that all vehicles used to transport learners across Uganda will be required to operate under a standard yellow colour scheme as part of a major overhaul of school transport safety.
The directive, unveiled by the Ministry of Works and Transport alongside other government agencies, comes in the wake of the deadly King David Junior School bus crash in Kapchorwa and a string of school transport accidents that have raised fresh concerns about the safety of children travelling on Uganda's roads.
Officials say the uniform colour will make school transport vehicles easier to identify, allowing traffic police and other enforcement agencies to monitor compliance with road safety regulations more effectively.
The requirement will apply to vehicles transporting learners from nursery schools, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, as well as universities and other education institutions.
Beyond the new colour requirement, government has also introduced a raft of safety measures targeting school transport. These include mandatory mechanical inspections before school trips, stricter driver clearance procedures through the Ministry of Works and Transport, and enhanced licensing and identification requirements for public service vehicle drivers.
The reforms follow growing public concern over road safety after several school transport accidents in July, culminating in the tragic Kapchorwa crash that claimed the lives of dozens of pupils and school staff. The incident prompted the Ministry of Education and Sports to suspend all school trips and educational excursions by road until further notice as investigations and safety reviews continue.
Government says an inter-ministerial committee will develop additional regulations governing vehicles that transport learners, with the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Works and Transport, and the Uganda Police Force expected to oversee implementation and enforcement.
Authorities say the measures are intended to improve visibility, strengthen accountability among transport operators, and reduce the risk of future tragedies involving schoolchildren on Uganda's roads.