Traffic Police Arrest Drunk Bus Driver at Maya Checkpoint

Traffic police have ramped up their nationwide road safety operations, leading to the arrest of a commercial bus driver for driving under the influence of alcohol, alongside three school bus drivers operating without mandatory professional badges.

Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura confirmed the arrests on Wednesday, stating that officers intercepted a bus driver identified as Bosco Wansika at the Maya Checkpoint in Mpigi District. Wansika, who was driving a bus under registration number UAY 458F, was found intoxicated behind the wheel. Authorities immediately took him into custody, and he is expected to be produced in court to answer to drunk driving charges.

In a parallel operation in Njeru, law enforcement apprehended three school bus drivers found operating without the professional badges mandated by the Ministry of Works and Transport. Kananura noted that the trio was detained and is scheduled to appear in court today, Thursday.

The traffic spokesperson issued a stern warning to all motorists against drink-driving, emphasizing that the reckless behavior places the lives of passengers and other road users in severe jeopardy.

He urged all commercial and school transport operators to ensure they possess valid documentation and comply strictly with traffic regulations, reminding the public that road safety is a shared responsibility and advising operators to comply before law enforcement comes for them.

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The recent arrests build on a growing list of interceptions at the Maya Checkpoint. Recently, officers arrested a Sino truck driver, Martin Oponya, after he failed to stop when flagged down by traffic police at around 8:00 p.m.

Oponya, who was driving a truck with registration UA 367AM, was subsequently found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and without a valid driver’s license. In a move to enforce collective responsibility, police also pressed charges against the owner of the truck for permitting an unlicensed individual to operate the heavy vehicle.

These enforcement actions come amid heightened government scrutiny of commercial vehicles following a recent spate of fatal road crashes across the country.

To address the mechanical and professional shortfalls in the transport sector, the Ministry of Works and Transport has stepped up compliance checks. Earlier this month, the government issued a strict two-month ultimatum for all Sino truck owners to subject their vehicles to mandatory mechanical inspections. Authorities warned that any trucks operating without the required clearance certificates after the deadline will be impounded and removed from Ugandan roads.