KAMPALA, August 24, 2026 — Police have impounded 178 public service vehicles (PSVs) in Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) during a crackdown on vehicles operating in dangerous mechanical conditions.
The operation, conducted on Monday, targeted PSVs considered mechanically unsafe and unfit to transport passengers.
According to the Uganda Police Force, 53 vehicles were impounded in KMP East, 62 in KMP South and 63 in KMP North, bringing the total to 178.
Police said the enforcement operation is intended to ensure that public service vehicles operating on Kampala’s roads are roadworthy and do not endanger passengers or other road users.
“The operation is aimed at ensuring that all Public Service Vehicles operating on our roads are roadworthy,” police said.
The force warned PSV owners, operators and drivers to ensure their vehicles are regularly serviced and maintained before being put on the road.
Police said mechanically unsafe vehicles pose a risk not only to passengers but also to motorists, pedestrians and other road users.
“A mechanically unsafe vehicle is not only a danger to its passengers but also poses a serious risk to other road users,” the force said.
The crackdown comes amid persistent concerns over road safety in Kampala, where public transport vehicles operate in congested traffic and often cover long distances every day.
Police said vehicle owners should not wait for enforcement operations before addressing mechanical defects.
“PSV owners, operators and drivers are therefore advised to rectify any mechanical defects on their vehicles before putting them on the road,” police said.
The force also warned that the operation will continue across the Kampala metropolitan area until operators comply with road-safety requirements.
“These enforcement operations will continue until sanity and full compliance are restored within the KMP area,” police said.
The latest operation puts renewed attention on the condition of Uganda’s public transport fleet, particularly the balance between commercial pressure on operators and the safety of passengers.
Police said there would be “no compromise where the safety of the public is concerned,” urging all road users and transport operators to treat road safety as a shared responsibility.
