The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has introduced a new requirement for all used motor vehicles entering the country to undergo roadworthiness inspections within Uganda under its destination inspection program.
This regulation, which took effect on November 22, 2024, is part of the UNBS’s efforts to ensure compliance with the Uganda Standard US 845:2017.
The standard, titled Road Vehicles Code of Practice for Inspection and Testing of Used Motor Vehicles for Roadworthiness, is compulsory for vehicles imported from Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries.
“This program ensures that vehicles entering the country meet minimum safety and environmental standards,” the UNBS statement reads, adding that “all vehicles presented for destination inspection should have a minimum of six months remaining before reaching 15 years from the year of manufacture.”
The inspections, carried out by UNBS inspectors at customs-controlled areas, are subject to a fee of USD 140 or its equivalent.
This measure is rooted in the UNBS Act Cap 210, which mandates the bureau to “formulate, promote, and enforce standards in the protection of public health, safety, and the environment.”
Eng. James Kasigwa, the Executive Director of UNBS, emphasised that the new requirement aligns with Uganda’s industrialization agenda and government priorities of export promotion and import substitution.
“This directive not only ensures customer protection but also enhances the quality assurance and competitiveness of locally manufactured and imported products,” he said.
The inspection regulation is part of the broader UNBS (Inspection and Clearance of Imports) Regulations, 2022, aimed at bolstering consumer safety and promoting fair trade practices.