Works ministry lifts weighbridge ban
THE suspension on the operations in the weighbridges ends today. The suspension was imposed last October following a probe over alleged abuse and “massive†corruption.
By Patrick Jaramogi
THE suspension on the operations in the weighbridges ends today. John Nasasira, the works minister, however, warned over the weekend that the lifting of the eight-month suspension comes with new regulations that will see truck drivers who overload fined up to sh6m or be jailed for two years or both.
The suspension was imposed last October following a probe over alleged abuse and “massive†corruption.
Weighbridges are intended to establish the weight of cargo on trucks coming into Uganda or in transit to neighbouring countries. The limit is 56 tonnes per truck.
“The minister has lifted the suspension. We are resuming operations in all the weighbridges across the country on Monday, June 14, but with some new regulations,†said Dennis Sabitti, the assistant commissioner for roads and pipelines in the works ministry.
“Trucks that break the recommended axle load will pay heavily for damaging our roads.â€
He was addressing a workshop organised by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to sensitise the axle transporters, manufacturers and other stakeholders in Kampala.
“UNRA is concerned about the damage of our roads.
“Overloading of commercial vehicles has accelerated damage on the roads, burdening the taxpayers. This must stop from Monday (today),†Sabitti said. Ugandan roads are designed to last for 15 years, but live less than three years.
“We have come up with these new measures to prevent further unnecessary deterioration of our precious roads. We shall, apart from charging and fining the drivers heavily, also impound the trucks, which will be forfeited to the State,†he said.
Under the new measures, the owner of a vehicle, trailer or engineering plant, with a gross weight exceeding the permissible one, shall not drive that vehicle, trailer or engineering plant on a road.
Sabitti explained that to curb corruption, the weighbridges have all been automated to capture details of the weight at the headquarters.
‘We are also building two additional permanent weighbridges at Magamaga and Luweero on top of the six already in place and the mobile ones,†he said.
THE suspension on the operations in the weighbridges ends today. John Nasasira, the works minister, however, warned over the weekend that the lifting of the eight-month suspension comes with new regulations that will see truck drivers who overload fined up to sh6m or be jailed for two years or both.
The suspension was imposed last October following a probe over alleged abuse and “massive†corruption.
Weighbridges are intended to establish the weight of cargo on trucks coming into Uganda or in transit to neighbouring countries. The limit is 56 tonnes per truck.
“The minister has lifted the suspension. We are resuming operations in all the weighbridges across the country on Monday, June 14, but with some new regulations,†said Dennis Sabitti, the assistant commissioner for roads and pipelines in the works ministry.
“Trucks that break the recommended axle load will pay heavily for damaging our roads.â€
He was addressing a workshop organised by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to sensitise the axle transporters, manufacturers and other stakeholders in Kampala.
“UNRA is concerned about the damage of our roads.
“Overloading of commercial vehicles has accelerated damage on the roads, burdening the taxpayers. This must stop from Monday (today),†Sabitti said. Ugandan roads are designed to last for 15 years, but live less than three years.
“We have come up with these new measures to prevent further unnecessary deterioration of our precious roads. We shall, apart from charging and fining the drivers heavily, also impound the trucks, which will be forfeited to the State,†he said.
Under the new measures, the owner of a vehicle, trailer or engineering plant, with a gross weight exceeding the permissible one, shall not drive that vehicle, trailer or engineering plant on a road.
Sabitti explained that to curb corruption, the weighbridges have all been automated to capture details of the weight at the headquarters.
‘We are also building two additional permanent weighbridges at Magamaga and Luweero on top of the six already in place and the mobile ones,†he said.