Katumba wants tougher traffic penalties

By Josephine Maseruka

The Inspector general of Police, Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala, has asked the works and transport ministry to de-register any vehicle with faulty seat belts and speed governors.

This follows the Wednesday police swoop in which 36 omnibuses and two buses that had sub-standard seat belts and speed governors that had been tampered with were impounded.

Wamala and transport state minister Andruale Awuzu were yesterday addressing drivers and vehicle owners at the Ministry of Works headquarters in Kampala, where the impounded vehicles are kept.

Wamala said, “Charging by ticketing has proved ineffective because fines are paid and the problem continues. We suggest that cancellation of the operator’s license until correct fitting is done is a better solution.”

Awuzu said he would sit with the relevant officers to ensure that cancellation of vehicle licences is effected.

He said to the drivers, “You people only understand the language of your pockets. If it fails, the police will blame me.”

He added, “We are going to read the law and see how to implement it. If one is arrested, we can cancel the licence for three months. Second time it will be cancelled for a year and third time it will be cancelled forever.”

Drivers requested that taxis should not have seat belts as it inconveniences both the passages and the vehicle owners.