Six Teso coaches impounded
Jun 22, 2009
THE Police have impounded six buses belonging to the Teso Bus Company for failure to meet the requirements of the Transport Licensing Board.
By Jeff Lule and Steven Candia
THE Police have impounded six buses belonging to the Teso Bus Company for failure to meet the requirements of the Transport Licensing Board.
The buses, which were impounded on Thursday evening, have been taken to Naguru for inspection before they are allowed to resume their routes.
In May, over 40 buses from the Gateway Bus Company were impounded for inspection after a spate of deadly road accidents involving buses.
The proprietor of the Teso Coaches, Faustine Etilu, said the move was uncalled for since he had not been informed about the exercise.
“They claim our buses were impounded because they lack route charts and driving permits. They also claim we defied Police orders to take the buses for inspection,†Etilu said.
He insisted that all his drivers were recruited from the driver’s association and they all had driving permits.
Teso Bus Company has nine buses, three of which are in the garage for maintenance services, while the other six have been impounded. As a result, Etilu said, many passengers bound for eastern Uganda were stranded due to lack of transport.
He added that his company had lost over sh30m since the buses were impounded.
During inspection, three buses were found to be in good condition, while the other three had mechanical problems and lacked essential requirements.
The regional traffic officer, Lawrence Nuwabine, said the buses were operating without licences, contrary to regulations.
Nuwabine said the company had defied directives from the Transport Licensing Board, which had suspended its operations following numerous accidents. “They wrote to them and they never responded. All buses are to be inspected to meet the requirements for the safety of our travellers. They can resume work after making the required repairs.â€
The Government announced that regular inspection of all vehicles, especially the big trucks and passenger vehicles, should be carried out in a move to reduce road accidents, which claim over 2,000 lives every year.
State minister for internal affairs Matia Kasaija said the Government and the Police would work tirelessly to ensure that all drivers complied with the speed limits.
He called the carnage on Uganda’s roads “entirely unacceptableâ€.
THE Police have impounded six buses belonging to the Teso Bus Company for failure to meet the requirements of the Transport Licensing Board.
The buses, which were impounded on Thursday evening, have been taken to Naguru for inspection before they are allowed to resume their routes.
In May, over 40 buses from the Gateway Bus Company were impounded for inspection after a spate of deadly road accidents involving buses.
The proprietor of the Teso Coaches, Faustine Etilu, said the move was uncalled for since he had not been informed about the exercise.
“They claim our buses were impounded because they lack route charts and driving permits. They also claim we defied Police orders to take the buses for inspection,†Etilu said.
He insisted that all his drivers were recruited from the driver’s association and they all had driving permits.
Teso Bus Company has nine buses, three of which are in the garage for maintenance services, while the other six have been impounded. As a result, Etilu said, many passengers bound for eastern Uganda were stranded due to lack of transport.
He added that his company had lost over sh30m since the buses were impounded.
During inspection, three buses were found to be in good condition, while the other three had mechanical problems and lacked essential requirements.
The regional traffic officer, Lawrence Nuwabine, said the buses were operating without licences, contrary to regulations.
Nuwabine said the company had defied directives from the Transport Licensing Board, which had suspended its operations following numerous accidents. “They wrote to them and they never responded. All buses are to be inspected to meet the requirements for the safety of our travellers. They can resume work after making the required repairs.â€
The Government announced that regular inspection of all vehicles, especially the big trucks and passenger vehicles, should be carried out in a move to reduce road accidents, which claim over 2,000 lives every year.
State minister for internal affairs Matia Kasaija said the Government and the Police would work tirelessly to ensure that all drivers complied with the speed limits.
He called the carnage on Uganda’s roads “entirely unacceptableâ€.