The Ministry of Works and Transport has yielded to pressure from drivers whose licenses were canceled due to discrepancies with their National Identification information.
The issue arose when the birth years on National IDs did not match those on the drivers’ permits and other related documents, resulting in the cancellation of the driving permits. This action was in accordance with the Traffic and Road Safety Law 2023, which mandated alignment of documents with the National Identification Number (NIN) for enhanced tracking.
The cancellation affected hundreds of driver’s licenses, necessitating re-application and a fresh process of acquiring all driver’s classes from driving schools. This was perceived as burdensome and costly, exacerbated by alleged corruption within Inspector of Vehicles and driving schools.
Drivers of buses, taxis, and trucks expressed discontent with the government, as their driving licenses did not align with other crucial documents like passports and national IDs.
Winstone Katushabe, Commissioner of Transport Regulation and Safety/Chief Licensing Officer of Motor Vehicles at the Ministry of Works and Transport, clarified that there will be no further cancellation of driving permits. Instead, drivers will undergo testing, and if they fail, they will be required to undergo the process anew at driving schools.
Rashid Sekindi Mugenyi, chairman of the Uganda Taxi Operators Federation, welcomed this decision, noting that the previous cancellations had rendered hundreds of drivers inactive. He emphasized that failing a test should not automatically lead to license cancellation, advocating for renewal instead.
Ibrahim Kayondo, Secretary General of the United Bus Driver’s Association (UBDA), Muhwezi Stephen, Chairperson of the Haulage Corridor East African Professional Driver’s Association, and Hanignton Kiwanuka, Chairperson of the Uganda Bus Operators Association, criticized the government for the initial permit cancellations, labeling it a grave mistake.
