Starting today, the Uganda Police and Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) will begin enforcing revised traffic rules requiring motorists to pay express penalty scheme (EPS) fines within 72 hours of issuance.
Failure to pay within the three-day window will attract a 50% surcharge. Susan Kataike, spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed that enforcement begins May 20, 2025.
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“We are rolling out the new traffic regulations today,” she stated.
Two statutory instruments form the legal basis of the changes:
- Statutory Instrument No. 56 of 2024—Traffic and Road Safety (Express Penalty Scheme for Road Offenders) Regulations.
- Road Safety (Prescription of Speed Limits) Regulations.
Previously, motorists had up to 28 days to clear EPS fines before facing penalties. Under the new framework, the payment window has been drastically reduced to 72 hours.
Transport Leaders Raise Concerns
Several transport associations have objected to aspects of the new regulations. Uganda Transport Operators Federation (UTOF) chairperson Rashid Ssekindi said the government has not yet installed speed limit signs across the road network.
“We can’t enforce rules that aren’t clearly marked. Drivers won’t know the limits,” Ssekindi said. He also pointed out concerns about automatic EPS systems that could penalize motorists for running red lights—even when directed by traffic officers.
Uganda National Transport Alliance chairperson William Busuulwa warned that lower speed limits could create confusion and congestion, especially on highways now surrounded by urban development. He called for clearer definitions of urban, access, and highway roads.
New Speed Limit Rules and Fines
Under the new regulations:
- Exceeding the speed limit by 1–30 km/h will result in a Shs200,000 fine.
- Exceeding the speed limit by over 30 km/h attracts a Shs600,000 fine.
For example, if a driver goes 91–120 km/h on a highway with a 90 km/h limit, they’ll be fined Shs200,000. Speeds beyond 120 km/h will incur a Shs600,000 fine.
The revised rules also lowered urban speed limits to 30 km/h, down from 50 km/h, particularly for vehicle categories frequently involved in accidents.
Concerns have also been raised about the EPS system automatically fining motorists when criminals clone or steal number plates—common during nighttime thefts.
Additionally, interfering with vehicle-installed electronic monitoring devices now carries a Shs100,000 fine.
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