Gov't cries foul over vehicle inspection remittances

Aug 10, 2017

In the contract, government is entitled to 10% of gross revenue earned by SGS from inspection of vehicles.

State minister for Transport, Aggrey Bagiire (right) and Ronald Amanyire, an engineer appearing before the Physical Infrastructure Committee of Parliament on August 10, 2017. PhotoS by Miriam Namutebi.

Two years into its five year renewable contract for mandatory vehicle inspection, ministry of works has instituted an audit team to ascertain how much Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS)has collected in terms of revenue for purposes of ascertain government's cut.

In the contract, government is entitled to 10% of gross revenue earned by SGS from inspection of vehicles.

"I have instituted an audit team to ascertain how much money has been collected from this exercise," Waiswa Bageya, the permanent secretary ministry of works, told lawmakers sitting on physical infrastructure committee on Thursday.

Bageya was part of technocrats from ministry of works led by state minister for transport, Aggrey Bagiire who were at parliament to answer queries over the role the ministry played in coming up with the final text of the contract with SGS.

MPs heard that a paltry sh214m has been remitted by SGS for the period between November 2016 and April 2017.

In March 2015, Uganda's Ministry of Works and Transport awarded Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) an exclusive contract to carry out vehicle inspections countrywide on its behalf.

The vehicle inspection exercise is carried out under "Safe Drive Uganda" - a road safety measure intended to ensure vehicle roadworthiness and reduce carnage on Ugandan roads.

However, complaints have been made about the process, with members of the public petitioning parliament over the exercise.

Last month, Speaker of parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, ordered that the deadline for motor vehicle inspection be lifted until a committee of parliament probes the entire exercise.

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