The Traffic Police have arrested a driver who was allegedly carrying more than double the permitted number of passengers in a private vehicle, in what authorities described as a dangerous act of excess loading.
According to Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura, the driver was tracked down through intelligence after reportedly dodging police checkpoints while transporting 15 passengers in a vehicle registered UA 261AF.
The vehicle is licensed to carry only seven passengers.
Police said the incident exposed passengers to significant risk, with some reportedly squeezed into unsafe positions.
In one instance, a man was allegedly forced to carry a woman he did not know due to the overcrowding, as the driver sought to maximise profit through illegal overloading.
“Imagine carrying passengers beyond capacity to the extent that a man is forced to carry a woman he does not even know, all in the name of excess loading,” Kananura said.
He expressed concern not only over the driver’s conduct but also over the passengers who boarded the vehicle despite its visibly unsafe condition.
“Passengers sat comfortably, unbothered to alert authorities or refuse boarding such an unsafe vehicle. They squeezed themselves into dangerous positions, ignoring the obvious risk to their own lives,” he added.
Police confirmed that the driver is currently detained and will appear in court to answer to several traffic-related charges.
“It is good that the driver of this vehicle, carrying 15 passengers instead of the permitted seven and dodging police checkpoints, has been tracked through intelligence and is now detained pending court to answer several traffic-related charges,” Kananura stated.
The Traffic Police have used the incident to reiterate that road safety is a shared responsibility between drivers, passengers, and enforcement agencies.
“Be reminded that road safety is a shared responsibility. As we urge drivers to act responsibly, passengers must also speak out. Accepting to travel in an overloaded vehicle puts every life at risk. Your voice could save lives,” he said.
Authorities continue to warn motorists against excess loading, which remains a significant contributor to fatal road crashes in Uganda.
As enforcement operations intensify, police are urging members of the public to refuse unsafe transport and report reckless drivers before tragedy strikes.
