PDTU & FAQ

Nelima Muyobo is one of the female drivers that have stepped up to challenge the myth that truck driving is for men only and she has done it with such grace, elegance and determination to the admiration of many.  Earlier this year when Nelima, expressed interest in learning how to drive trucks, she was met with a setback because she could only drive automatic cars but being the determined person that she is, this did not hold her back but instead fired her up to pursue this dream that she had had for a long time. She went back to a driving school to learn how drive manual vehicles and returned to the Professional Driver Training Uganda (PDTU) Centre ready to take on the challenge and her instructors could not be more proud. 

Nelima, went on to complete her four week driving course for Heavy Good Vehicles and currently holds a CM driving permit hopes to drive trucks through East Africa and further. Narrating her experience at the training centre Nelima said “When I first came to the school, I was a little scared and did not know what to expect, but the team there was very supportive, the instructors very professional, patient and filled me with confidence. I had been driving for a long time but when I enrolled at PDTU, I released I still had so much to learn to be a better driver. The training is highly recommended.”

The 36 year old mother of two encourages women to take on this opportunity “There is still a thinking in Uganda that truck driving is for men only, but having done it myself I don’t see what should stop fellow women. I would encourage women who have this passion to use this opportunity and increase their chances of employment”

The driver training at the PDTU is based on the standardized East African Community (EAC) Curriculum is done by very experienced trainers who are deemed as some of the best in the region. To maintain the quality of training, the trainers also undergo regular remedial training by experts in field seconded by Transaid UK. The training is currently free for women and men get a 50% discount.

The PDTU is one of the initiatives from Safe Way Right Way (SWRW) aimed at improving road safety through professional driver training for Heavy Goods Vehicles and soon Passenger Service Vehicles.   PDTU was set up with support from GIZ E4D/SOGA, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation, UK Department for International Development, and the Norwegian Agency for Development.