Uganda mandates colour-coding for school vans to boost learner safety

The Ugandan government is set to introduce mandatory colour-coding for all school vans and buses as part of wider measures to improve the safety of learners on the country’s roads. The move is among key recommendations made by the recently constituted inter-ministerial committee formed to review school transportation following the tragic Kapchorwa accident.

While details of the colour-coding scheme are yet to be released, officials say the new regulations aim to make school vehicles easily identifiable, ensuring better enforcement of traffic rules and quicker response in emergencies. The initiative is expected to be rolled out in phases, with owners of school transport given a grace period to comply.

Parents and education stakeholders have welcomed the development, though some have raised concerns about the cost of repainting vehicles. The government has assured that the measures are designed with affordability in mind and will ultimately save lives.

The Kapchorwa tragedy, which claimed several young lives, served as a wake-up call for authorities to overhaul school transport safety. The inter-ministerial committee was tasked with examining all aspects of school transportation, including vehicle standards, driver qualifications, and enforcement mechanisms.

Article source: independent.co.ug | Image credit: x.com