Nasasira suspends weighbridge operations
Oct 24, 2009
WORKS minister John Nasasira yesterday suspended the operations of six weighbridges in the country, and also announced a probe team into the alleged corruption on the facilities.
By Conan Businge
and Steven Candia
WORKS minister John Nasasira yesterday suspended the operations of six weighbridges in the country, and also announced a probe team into the alleged corruption on the facilities.
The Uganda National Roads Authority, an agency under the works and transport ministry operates six Axle Load weighbridge stations. They are located at Sironko, Busia, Busitema, Lukaya, Mbarara, and Mubende.
Nasasira cracked the whip, following numerous complaints that the operation staff extort money from truck owners, operators and drivers whenever they pass these stations.
Undercover investigations by the Police, triggered off by the complaints, unearthed gross irregularities in the running of the facilities.
The minister said: “I asked the Police to make a surprise check on all weighbridge stations to ascertain the complaints. The operation was carried out at 11:00am on October 16, when trucks that had passed through weighbridges were returned and weighed. This was done at the same time on all the six weighbridges mentioned above.
The Police found that most overloaded vehicles were not weighed at all weighbridge stations and the few that were weighed, their drivers, operators or owners were not prosecuted.†He lauded the Police boss, Kale Kayihura, for a job well-done.
Following an earlier meeting, he said, the Uganda National Transport Alliance wrote to him on September 9, complaining about the way they are treated at the Weighbridge.
The committee, chaired by Professor Opio Eperu, will investigate operations at the facilities between January 1 and October 21 this year.
Others on the committee are Merion Tibabiganya, Julius Rubagumya, Eng. Winnie Naluyinda, David Magara and Paul Kutesa.
They are expected to commence work immediately and report their findings and recommendations to Nasasira by December 10.
and Steven Candia
WORKS minister John Nasasira yesterday suspended the operations of six weighbridges in the country, and also announced a probe team into the alleged corruption on the facilities.
The Uganda National Roads Authority, an agency under the works and transport ministry operates six Axle Load weighbridge stations. They are located at Sironko, Busia, Busitema, Lukaya, Mbarara, and Mubende.
Nasasira cracked the whip, following numerous complaints that the operation staff extort money from truck owners, operators and drivers whenever they pass these stations.
Undercover investigations by the Police, triggered off by the complaints, unearthed gross irregularities in the running of the facilities.
The minister said: “I asked the Police to make a surprise check on all weighbridge stations to ascertain the complaints. The operation was carried out at 11:00am on October 16, when trucks that had passed through weighbridges were returned and weighed. This was done at the same time on all the six weighbridges mentioned above.
The Police found that most overloaded vehicles were not weighed at all weighbridge stations and the few that were weighed, their drivers, operators or owners were not prosecuted.†He lauded the Police boss, Kale Kayihura, for a job well-done.
Following an earlier meeting, he said, the Uganda National Transport Alliance wrote to him on September 9, complaining about the way they are treated at the Weighbridge.
The committee, chaired by Professor Opio Eperu, will investigate operations at the facilities between January 1 and October 21 this year.
Others on the committee are Merion Tibabiganya, Julius Rubagumya, Eng. Winnie Naluyinda, David Magara and Paul Kutesa.
They are expected to commence work immediately and report their findings and recommendations to Nasasira by December 10.