Cabinet Okays Proposal to Install Speed Limiters in Commercial Vehicles

Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Ministry of Works and Transport to have digital speed limiters installed in all commercial vehicles as a way of preventing road carnage.

This was revealed by the Government Spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo on Tuesday while briefing the media on the decisions of the Cabinet which sat on Monday at State House Entebbe.

Opondo said that Cabinet had approved a number of proposed measures by the Ministry of Works and Transport to address road carnage in Uganda.

“These measures include installation of digital speed limiters in all commercial vehicles and licensing of all goods vehicles and this process will require goods vehicles to fulfill certain regulatory requirements including inspection for road worthiness,” he told journalists at the Uganda Media Centre.

Opondo was representing the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Frank Tumwebaze.

In addition, government will accredit all drivers of goods vehicles and introduce a Graduated Driving License that will mandate drivers of commercial vehicles to undergo refresher courses and training.

The other proposal is to establish Automated Driver Test Centers intended to minimize human bias and to allow learner drivers to undergo rigorous testing to confirm their competences to drive before issuance of driving permits.

“Cabinet also approved plans to step up road safety sensitization, awareness and strengthening of the coordination role of road safety activities by the Ministry of Works and Transport,” Opondo added.

The new proposals come days after a motor accident involving a Gaaga bus, a tractor and trailer killed 22 people and left 15 others injured, in Kiryandongo district last week. Government on Sunday declared three days of national mourning to pay tribute to the victims of the tragic incident.

Cabinet in its Monday meeting observed a moment of silence for the repose of the souls of all those who died in the accident, and commiserated with the families on the loss of their loved ones.

The nasty accident has since prompted queries from the public and legislators regarding road safety and the measures government has taken to enforce its traffic laws.

A section of the public have partly blamed the Police for laxity in their traffic operations while others fault traffic officers for taking bribes while vehicles that are not roadworthy continue to roam the roads.