Ministry for Works and Transport, Centre for Policy Analysis Ready to Mandate New Speed Limit Regulations on Road.

The Ministry for Works and Transport in partnership with Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) has  proposed to formulate new regulations  focusing at minimizing speed for vehicles, trucks, motorists and also  improving driver behaviour among road users.

The development shall be taken upon as a safety culture which will protect the most vulnerable road users especially the pedestrians and passengers that do not control vehicles, curb over speeding  for all road users in order to minimize the continued road accidents.

In Kampala on Friday, the commissioner Ministry of Works and Transport, Winston Katushabe informed in an exclusive interview that to come up with new regulations,  they need to incorporate new emerging issues because the current regulations was formulated 20 years ago (2004) and therefore they seek to have issues streamlined,  this is why  installation of cameras has been championed because in some cases they also need tickets to be issued through systems not by individuals but all this new developments  requires a regulation to be amended, he said.

Katushabe mentioned, the engagement included stakeholder from the Uganda police force, UNRA, UTOF, Driving Schools and other CSOs through efforts of Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) .  The level of fines or penalties to the traffic offenders should be deterant enough to ensure that motorists on the road can be considerate, behave just like any other road users. 

"Speed Is one of the risk factors regarding road safety , especially by the findings of experts like the Uganda police force, Makerere Public Health and government" 

According to the commissioner  "Some among the take homes have were that government and relevant bodies need to protect it's people especially pedestrians. We must reduce speed in areas where school zones are located, churches , mosques and hospitals. If we can address this and classify these roads through identifying where speed needs to be limited especially in the regulations , this can support reduce accidents on the roads." 

According to the to the draft of the new proposed regulations, if a person fails to comply with the speed limit, he or she shall be subjected to commiting an offence and is liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred currency points or imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both.

A person suspected to have committed the offence under subregulation (1) may have an option of paying an express penalty in accordance with the Traffic and Road Safety (Express Penalty Scheme for Road Traffic Offenders) Regulations. 2023 or to be prosecuted in Court for failing to comply with the prescribed speed limit. 

 A person opts for paying an express penalty in accordance with the Traffic and Road Safety (Express Penalty Scheme for Road Traffic Offenders) Regulations, 2023 the fixed express penalty shall be in accordance with subregulation 4.

Subject to subregulation (1) and (2) a person who fails to comply with the speed limit prescribed under these Regulations in excess of a one kilometer per hour to five kilometers per hour shall pay a fine of two currency points, five kilometers per hour to thirty kilometers per hour shall pay a fine of ten currency points and thirty kilometers per hour thirty currency points.