500 charged over seat belts in Kampala
Dec 01, 2004
AT least 500 people were charged in Kampala city yesterday as the Police began to enforce the seat belts regulation.
By Steven Candia, Maurice Okore and Florence Nakaayi
AT least 500 people were charged in Kampala city yesterday as the Police began to enforce the seat belts regulation.
The four-hour early morning clampdown left long queues of vehicles with stranded passengers. Most of those charged were passengers.
They appeared at Nabweru, Mwanga II, Makindye, Nakawa and Buganda Road courts.
They were charged over failure to wear safety belts. At the Nakawa Court, 150 people were charged.
Some 40 were fined sh20,000 each after they pleaded guilty before Buganda Road Court Magistrate John Kaggwa.
“Your worship, it is true that I did not fasten by belt but I did not intend it. I just simply forgot to do so,†a passenger said after hearing the charges.
Kaggwa warned he would send the passenger to jail if they were charged with the same offence again.
The Police said the crackdown would continue until there was compliance.
“The public should know that the safety belt is for their own good,†deputy Kampala traffic chief Sarah Kibwika said.
She said passengers who flout the law would not be given on-spot fines because they were capable of misleading the Police, which would make it hard to track them down.
A few vehicles were impounded. The Police said emphasis was on passengers.
“If passengers shun PSVs without seat belts, such vehicles will not have customers, which will compel the owners to install seat belts,†a police officer said.
The Police mounted several checkpoints on major roads in the city and ambushed motorists and passengers.
The clampdown began at 7:00am till 10:00am.
At some checkpoints there was drama as several passengers took to their heels. Some motorists resorted to side streets. Others removed their vehicles from the road.
After the crackdown, taxi crews urged passengers to belt up, warning the defiant ones of dire consequences.
Works minister John Nasasira issued the seat belts order earlier this year but delayed its implementation to allow motorists buy seat belts.
AT least 500 people were charged in Kampala city yesterday as the Police began to enforce the seat belts regulation.
The four-hour early morning clampdown left long queues of vehicles with stranded passengers. Most of those charged were passengers.
They appeared at Nabweru, Mwanga II, Makindye, Nakawa and Buganda Road courts.
They were charged over failure to wear safety belts. At the Nakawa Court, 150 people were charged.
Some 40 were fined sh20,000 each after they pleaded guilty before Buganda Road Court Magistrate John Kaggwa.
“Your worship, it is true that I did not fasten by belt but I did not intend it. I just simply forgot to do so,†a passenger said after hearing the charges.
Kaggwa warned he would send the passenger to jail if they were charged with the same offence again.
The Police said the crackdown would continue until there was compliance.
“The public should know that the safety belt is for their own good,†deputy Kampala traffic chief Sarah Kibwika said.
She said passengers who flout the law would not be given on-spot fines because they were capable of misleading the Police, which would make it hard to track them down.
A few vehicles were impounded. The Police said emphasis was on passengers.
“If passengers shun PSVs without seat belts, such vehicles will not have customers, which will compel the owners to install seat belts,†a police officer said.
The Police mounted several checkpoints on major roads in the city and ambushed motorists and passengers.
The clampdown began at 7:00am till 10:00am.
At some checkpoints there was drama as several passengers took to their heels. Some motorists resorted to side streets. Others removed their vehicles from the road.
After the crackdown, taxi crews urged passengers to belt up, warning the defiant ones of dire consequences.
Works minister John Nasasira issued the seat belts order earlier this year but delayed its implementation to allow motorists buy seat belts.