Gov’t suspends Y.Y coaches over fatal accidents

The ministry of Works and Transport has suspended Y.Y Coaches from operating on all routes for 15 days, effective Tuesday, May 13, following a string of serious road accidents involving the company’s buses.

The suspension was announced after a meeting between ministry officials and Y.Y Coaches management, during which the government expressed grave concerns over the company’s safety standards and driver conduct.

In a letter signed by the state minister for Transport Fred Byamukama, the ministry cited two recent fatal crashes as key reasons for the decision.

“The ministry is deeply concerned about the recent series of accidents involving your buses,” Byamukama wrote.

The first incident occurred on May 5, 2025, when a Y.Y Coaches bus (registration number, UAV 701C) crashed at Najja village in Buikwe district along the Kampala–Katosi–Jinja highway.

Three people died in the crash, and preliminary investigations pointed to driver negligence. The driver remains at large. The second crash involved another Y.Y Coaches bus (registration number, UAX 852F), which was traveling from Kampala to Yumbe.

The bus collided with another vehicle at Ayango on the Pakwach–Arua highway after the driver reportedly attempted to overtake recklessly and lost control.

“These two crashes point to recklessness by your drivers and a failure in the company’s operational management,” Byamukama noted.

As part of the suspension, the ministry has ordered Y.Y Coaches to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations and undertake comprehensive safety reforms.

The company must:

Present all its buses for re-inspection by a joint team from the Uganda Police Force (Directorate of Traffic) and the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Produce the drivers involved in the two accidents for further action by the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety.
Submit a complete list of all its drivers, along with their appointment letters and driver badges.
Provide a schedule of refresher training and evidence of drivers who have undergone such training in the past year.

Additionally, the ministry has directed Y.Y Coaches to issue a public statement explaining the recent incidents and outlining the safety measures being put in place to prevent future occurrences. The 15-day suspension is aimed at enforcing accountability and ensuring that public transport operators prioritize passenger safety.