The government has given all Sino trucks operating in Uganda a two-month deadline to undergo mandatory mechanical inspections, warning that trucks found operating without clearance will be removed from the roads.
The directive was announced on Wednesday during a joint road safety enforcement operation led by the Ministry of Works and Transport at several bus terminals in Kampala.
The operation, conducted by officials from the Traffic Police, Old Kampala Police Division and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), focused on assessing compliance with transport regulations and safety standards among bus operators, including Friendship Coaches, Perfect Coaches and Jaguar Coaches.
During the exercise, bus drivers urged government to extend inspections beyond passenger buses, pointing to Sino trucks as a major contributor to serious road crashes.
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The drivers said many road users fear sharing roads with the heavy commercial vehicles because of their involvement in frequent and often fatal accidents.
Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winstone Katushabe said government had decided to make inspections compulsory for all Sino trucks to ensure only roadworthy vehicles remain in operation.
"All Sino trucks must undergo mandatory inspection within the next two months. Any truck found operating on the road without undergoing inspection will be impounded, and the driver will be arrested and prosecuted," Katushabe said.
He added that government will also profile and assess Sino truck drivers to establish whether they have the required skills and professional qualifications to operate heavy commercial vehicles.
"We are also profiling and assessing Sino truck drivers to ensure they are professionally trained and competent to operate these vehicles safely. Road safety starts with both a roadworthy vehicle and a qualified driver," he said.
The government has already started inspecting passenger buses under a broader road safety campaign aimed at improving compliance among public transport operators.
Officials said the programme will gradually expand to cover other categories of vehicles as authorities seek to reduce road carnage.
The inspection drive will also include medical and professional fitness assessments for drivers as part of measures to ensure that only competent and physically fit motorists operate on Uganda's roads.
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Authorities say the initiative is part of wider efforts to address the increasing number of road crashes by targeting both vehicle conditions and driver competence.
