Traffic Police demands sh15b from motorists

Nov 22, 2011

The Uganda Police is counting arrears of up to sh15b in Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) defaults, a top official has disclosed.

By Joel Ogwang           
                                     
The Uganda Police is counting arrears of up to sh15b in Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) defaults, a top official has disclosed.

“The (sh15b) uncollected arrears cover a six-year period between 2005 and 2011,” Bazil Mugisha, the commissioner of Police in charge of road safety, said in an interview this week.

Following the widespread careless use of roads by motorists, hire motorcyclists (boda boda) and the poor state of vehicles, the Police, in 2004, instituted the EPS.
Under the scheme, a traffic Police officer issues a receipt to a motorist found guilty of any traffic offence.

The receipts show the fine, the driver must pay, while those who evade or skip payment are arrested and charged in court.

The lowest fine is sh40,000, with sh100,000 being the highest. For example, carrying excess passengers incurs a fine of sh60,000, a vehicle in dangerous mechanical condition (sh50,000), while speeding invites a sh100,000 penalty. A motorcyclist is expected to carry one passenger, with a commuter taxi 14, a coaster 28 and a bus 56 passengers, said Mugisha.

“A culprit is supposed to deposit the fine (to any bank of his or her choice) within 28 calendar days,” he said.

The EPS has turned out to be a lucrative revenue source for the Police, with sh2.8b collected in the 2007/08 financial year. Sh12b was garnered in 2010, a two-fold jump from sh6.7b in 2010. The Police have collected sh1.08b up to August 2011.

However, many culprits default on their payment.The Police estimate the default rate at 80%.

“We are now gearing-up to collect all the monies in penalties using our computerised data system. Any defaulter should be very worried because he/ she will be arrested any time,” he said.            

 

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