KAMPALA — The government is considering sweeping road safety reforms that could fundamentally change how traffic offences are enforced in Uganda, with vehicle owners, public transport operators and repeat traffic offenders all facing tougher scrutiny.
Among the proposals under review are measures to hold vehicle owners accountable for traffic violations committed using their vehicles, introduce biometric monitoring systems for public service drivers, establish a demerit points system for repeat offenders and crack down on motorists using excessively loud vehicle horns.
The proposals emerged from a national consultative workshop on the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) and speed management and will now be analysed before being presented to Cabinet.
Speaking at the close of the workshop, Winstone Katushabe, the Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety and Chief Licensing Officer of Motor Vehicles at the Ministry of Works and Transport, said the recommendations reflected views gathered from stakeholders and members of the public.
"We are discussing the views of the public, not the views of the ministry. We shall analyze these proposals and present them to Cabinet for consideration," Katushabe said.
The proposed reforms are aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement amid growing concern over speeding, reckless driving and other dangerous road practices that continue to contribute to crashes across the country.
One of the most far-reaching recommendations would require vehicle owners to take greater responsibility for how their vehicles are used. Under the proposal, owners could face penalties if their vehicles are involved in traffic offences or are fitted with unauthorized modifications.
Katushabe said vehicle owners have a duty to know who is operating their vehicles and should be able to provide that information whenever authorities are investigating an offence.
The ministry is also working with vehicle inspection agencies and National Environment Management Authority to tackle rising noise pollution caused by motorists installing horns that exceed approved noise levels.
"Every vehicle manufacturer has a prescribed level of noise measured in decibels. We do not expect motorists to install horns that exceed acceptable noise limits," Katushabe said.
Another key proposal is the introduction of a demerit points system, under which drivers would accumulate penalty points for repeated traffic violations in addition to paying fines. Persistent offenders could face tougher sanctions, including suspension of driving privileges.
Government is also seeking to address driver fatigue, which road safety experts identify as a major contributor to road crashes, especially among commercial and public transport operators.
Under the proposed framework, public service vehicle drivers would be subjected to biometric monitoring systems capable of tracking working hours and rest periods.
"We want to ensure that drivers have adequate rest before starting another journey because fatigue is one of the major contributors to road crashes and speeding," Katushabe explained.
The ministry is further considering changes to the operation of traffic lights during late-night hours. Officials say the review is intended to improve traffic flow and reduce incidents of robbery and vandalism reported by motorists forced to stop at isolated junctions during the night.
Katushabe noted that some of the recommendations would require amendments to existing legislation and would therefore need approval from both Cabinet and Parliament before they can take effect.
He stressed that while public awareness campaigns remain important, enforcement must remain at the centre of efforts to improve road safety.
"Education without enforcement becomes entertainment. We must combine sensitization with effective enforcement if we are to improve road safety on our roads," he said.
If approved, the reforms would represent one of the most significant overhauls of Uganda's traffic enforcement framework in recent years, potentially affecting millions of motorists and vehicle owners across the country.