Uganda: Government Mandates Bus Driver Rotation on Long-Distance Routes to Combat Fatigue

The Ugandan government has introduced a new rule requiring bus companies to change drivers after long journeys, according to Nile Post, reported by AllAfrica on August 11, 2026. The measure aims to reduce driver fatigue, identified as a contributing factor in a series of fatal accidents on Uganda's road network in recent weeks. The source does not specify the exact authority that issued the directive, the number of accidents involved, or the death toll from the recent incidents. However, it indicates that driver rotation is now mandatory for operators running long-distance routes, a sector dominated by private companies operating notably along the Kampala-Gulu, Kampala-Mbarara, and Kampala-Kabale corridors. For transport companies, the measure entails additional costs related to employing extra drivers and reorganizing schedules, with a risk of passing these costs onto ticket prices. For passengers, it promises a reduced risk of accidents linked to exhaustion, provided operators effectively enforce the rule. Uganda is among the East African countries with the highest number of road fatalities, with the national police regularly pointing to speeding and driver fatigue as recurring causes. The country thus aligns with a regional trend, as Kenya and Tanzania have already imposed speed limiters and rest regulations.