The Ministry of Works and Transport has imposed a 15-day suspension on YY Coaches following two major road accidents, one of which resulted in the deaths of three passengers and a bus fire on the Mukono–Katosi–Jinja highway.
In a letter dated May 12, 2025, State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama cited the company’s failure to manage its drivers and other operational shortcomings, with initial investigations indicating reckless driving in both cases.
“These incidents highlight not only driver recklessness but also poor oversight and internal management issues,” the minister stated in his letter to the YY Coaches Managing Director.
The fatal accident happened on May 5 when a bus, registration UAV 701C, overturned and caught fire at Najja village in Buikwe District. Three passengers were confirmed dead, and the driver fled the scene, according to police reports.
A second incident involved another YY bus, registration UAX 852F, which crashed at Ayango along the Pakwach–Arua highway while en route to Yumbe. The driver reportedly lost control while overtaking another vehicle.
As part of the suspension, effective from 7pm on Tuesday, May 13, all YY Coaches buses will be grounded to facilitate a joint investigation with the Uganda Police. The company is required to present all vehicles for inspection and submit complete driver records, including proof of recent refresher training.
The ministry also instructed the company to produce the drivers involved in both crashes and issue a public explanation detailing what occurred and the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The suspension affects multiple long-distance routes. YY Coaches operates across Uganda’s eastern, northern, and northwestern regions, serving routes from Kampala to Arua, Yumbe, Gulu, Kitgum, Lira, Mbale, and beyond, including international routes to South Sudan.
The company, known for transporting both passengers and goods, especially during nighttime and early morning hours, has a history of safety issues. In August 2019, YY suspended operations voluntarily after a series of fatal crashes. In 2020, police halted their services again following multiple accidents, requiring all drivers to undergo new tests. In 2017, several buses were impounded in Jinja over failure to install required digital tracking systems.
Despite these issues, YY Coaches remains a key player in Uganda’s long-distance transport sector. Authorities say the current suspension is aimed at safeguarding lives and holding the company accountable for safety compliance.
As of Monday evening, YY Coaches had yet to release an official statement regarding the suspension.
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