The Ministry of Transport has suspended all operations of Jaguar Bus Company for ten days, effective September 13, 2024.
This suspension comes in the wake of a tragic accident involving one of the company’s buses on the Kampala-Masaka Highway.
Two weeks ago, a Jaguar Bus traveling from Kampala to Kigali was involved in a catastrophic accident. The bus, driven recklessly, attempted to overtake another vehicle by crossing into the opposite lane. This maneuver resulted in a head-on collision with an Isuzu truck, causing the bus to roll multiple times. The crash claimed the lives of eight passengers and left 20 others injured.
Following a preliminary investigation, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has determined that the accident was caused by the bus driver’s reckless driving. This has led the government to impose a temporary suspension on Jaguar’s services in Uganda.
Fred Byamukama, the Deputy Minister of Roads, announced the suspension and warned that any attempt to operate or repair the buses during this period would be deemed illegal. During the 10-day hiatus, Jaguar Bus Company is required to bring all their buses in for thorough inspections. A joint committee comprising Ministry of Works and Transport engineers and a team from the Uganda Police’s IOV (Inspection of Vehicles) will oversee this process.
In addition to the inspections, the bus company must provide proof that all drivers have completed refresher courses and submit relevant documents to verify compliance.
Byamukama explained that the regulations apply not only to Jaguar but also to other large transport companies, stating, “If you have a fleet of vehicles and an accident occurs due to negligence, we will hold you accountable.”
In a related development, Gateway Bus has been given a 7-day ultimatum to surrender a bus and driver seen in a viral video negotiating a corner to Kisoro.
The Ministry of Transport is also revising regulations concerning taxi operators following a recent incident involving a Koboko bus. In that case, the taxi driver was found to be at fault, which led to a fatal outcome for all passengers.
The government is considering new regulations to better manage taxi operations, including the possibility of penalizing entire associations for the actions of individual members.
This is not the first time Jaguar Bus Company has faced scrutiny. A similar suspension was enacted in 2016 after a series of accidents involving their buses. The ongoing concerns highlight the need for stringent safety measures and regulatory compliance within the transport sector.