Kampala — TRUCK drivers yesterday went on strike at the Mbarara and Mubende weigh-bridges, protesting fines for excess load. The limit is 56 tonnes per truck.

The drivers blocked the Mbarara-Kampala and Kampala-Kasese highways for several hours, creating a massive jam stretching for kilometers. Over 100 trucks were packed in the middle of Mubende highway. The Police were called in to calm the situation.

State minister for finance Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu survived a crash on his way to Kampala from Mbarara. His car veered off the road as the driver attempted to dodge the trucks.

The Uganda National Roads Authority has six weigh-bridges stationed in Sironko, Busia, Busitema, Lukaya, Mbarara and Mubende. Recently, delays at the Busitema weigh-bridge prompted a temporary suspension of the service.

Mbarara district chairman Vincent Irama said most trucks were impounded on Tuesday night for excess load. At least 55 drivers were involved.

Overload, he said, damages the roads and is an offence.

He said the culprits would be charged in court.

The roads authority spokesperson, Dan Alinage, described the blockade as unfortunate, but added that the law would still be enforced.

He said anybody who has issues with the load limit should address the matter in court or Parliament. The roads, he argued, must be protected because some donors had "threatened to stop funding road construction" over the matter.

He said if nothing was done about overloading, upcoming road projects like the Mbarara-Katuna and Gulu-Nimule would be affected.

The drivers, however, argued that they had been cleared and wondered why they were stopped at the Mbarara weigh-bridge. "Aren't they using the same system?" one driver asked.

Some alleged they had been asked for bribes before being cleared.

One driver, Munyara Otoda, who was ferrying fuel to Rwanda, said he had spent three days on the way.