The government has confirmed that mandatory vehicle inspections will commence in July.
Addressing journalists on Friday, Works and Transport Minister Gen Katumba Wamala stated that preparations are in progress to meet the set timeline.
“By July, we will begin mandatory vehicle inspections, starting with passenger service vehicles and goods vehicles, including trucks,” Gen Katumba announced.
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The initiative, which has faced multiple delays, was initially assigned to a private company but was halted by Parliament. As a result, the Cabinet directed that the government take over the process.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Works and Transport assumed responsibility for vehicle inspections, previously handled by SGS Uganda Ltd. The inspection facilities in Nabbingo, Namanve, Kawanda, and Namulanda are now under government management.
Gen. Katumba revealed that training sessions for police and ministry staff are underway as part of the preparation.
“Before inspections begin, we will conduct public awareness campaigns, train personnel, and test the equipment. Come July, we will officially roll out mandatory vehicle inspections,” he noted.
He also warned that some older taxis may not be allowed back on the road if they fail to meet roadworthiness standards, as vehicles deemed unfit will not receive a PSV license.
Speaking about the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Marrakech, Morocco, from February 18-20, 2025, Gen Katumba emphasized Uganda’s commitment to reducing road accidents and fatalities by 50% by 2030.
“With the theme ‘Commit to Life,’ the conference brought together global leaders to accelerate efforts towards halving road deaths. Uganda is fully committed to this goal,” he said.
He acknowledged Uganda’s poor road safety record, ranking 10th on the continent in terms of road accident fatalities.
“It is unacceptable to report high numbers of road crashes and deaths every year. Road safety is impacting the economy, and we must take urgent action to reverse this trend,” Gen Katumba stated.
To enhance road safety, the government plans to collaborate with multinational companies and private sector stakeholders to drive improvements in road safety measures.
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