UNRA impounds 260 overloaded trucks
Aug 23, 2011
A total of 260 overloaded trucks have so far been impounded by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) at the newly-constructed Luweero Weighbridge, which became operational three weeks ago.
By Frederick Kiwanuka
A total of 260 overloaded trucks have so far been impounded by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) at the newly-constructed Luweero Weighbridge, which became operational three weeks ago.
The offenders have paid fines ranging from sh200,000 to sh1.1m, UNRA said in a report over the weekend. The report, which covers the period between July 25 and August 20, indicates that a total of s29.6m in court penalties was raised from 73 offenders during the first week of operation alone.
It showed that a total of 2,443 buses and lorries had been weighed by Saturday, of which 258 had been netted for overloading.
The sh2.6b weighbridge aims at controlling axle loads on the busy Kampala-Gulu highway to protect it from damage.The maximum gross axle load is 18 tonnes for six-tyre trucks, 24 tonnes for those with 10 tyres and 48 tonnes for trailers. Pontius Yada, the assistant weighbridge controller, said most of the culprits were heading to eastern DR Congo and South Sudan.
He said an average of 15 to 20 trucks are impounded daily for violating axle rules.
Yada complained that many overloaded trucks were dodging the weighbridge by branching into feeder roads that bypass Luweero town.
Some of the arrested drivers complained over the redtape involved in charging, prosecuting and penalising them.
A total of 260 overloaded trucks have so far been impounded by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) at the newly-constructed Luweero Weighbridge, which became operational three weeks ago.
The offenders have paid fines ranging from sh200,000 to sh1.1m, UNRA said in a report over the weekend. The report, which covers the period between July 25 and August 20, indicates that a total of s29.6m in court penalties was raised from 73 offenders during the first week of operation alone.
It showed that a total of 2,443 buses and lorries had been weighed by Saturday, of which 258 had been netted for overloading.
The sh2.6b weighbridge aims at controlling axle loads on the busy Kampala-Gulu highway to protect it from damage.The maximum gross axle load is 18 tonnes for six-tyre trucks, 24 tonnes for those with 10 tyres and 48 tonnes for trailers. Pontius Yada, the assistant weighbridge controller, said most of the culprits were heading to eastern DR Congo and South Sudan.
He said an average of 15 to 20 trucks are impounded daily for violating axle rules.
Yada complained that many overloaded trucks were dodging the weighbridge by branching into feeder roads that bypass Luweero town.
Some of the arrested drivers complained over the redtape involved in charging, prosecuting and penalising them.