Police nets 20 in motor vehicle operation

By 7am on Monday morning, Wandegeya Police Station traffic officers were already stationed at different spots along Bombo Road in Kampala.

Dressed in white uniforms and reflector jackets, the officers stopped almost all drivers that were using the road from 7am to 11am when the operation ended.

According to the AIP Kudula Ssemanda the officer in charge of traffic operations at Wandegeya Police division, they were looking out for drivers without insurance especially the Passenger Service Vehicles (PSV) for public transport like taxis.

Ssemanda further explained that they were also looking for vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions, those driving vehicles without the commended permit class for them, and other offenses like drink driving.

"The number of traffic offenders is decreasing as people are getting permits, insurance for their cars and also take their vehicles for servicing.

This is shown by the decreasing number of offenders we arrest or give receipts during operations we carry out these days," he added.

He added that 20 cases including driving without permits, driving vehicles in dangerous mechanical condition and over loading were registered during the five hour operation.

Ssemanda added that police carries out such operations on drivers to minimize on road accidents, have competent drivers and also make sure vehicles on the roads are in good condition.

He advised drivers to always follow traffic rules and take their vehicles for servicing at least once a week adding that most accidents are caused by vehicles with tyres in poor condition and poor brakes.

Huruna Kazibwe a driver operating along Bombo Road said drivers especially taxi drivers should mind the lives of people they hold in their hands whenever they are driving and take their cars for servicing as often as they can.

He however added that police should not be carrying out their operations daily to allow drivers they give receipts time to work and get money to acquire the documents and other necessities for their vehicles.