SGS has opened its fourth vehicle inspection station. The facility that is in Bugema, on Tororo – Mbale road, about 3 kilometers from Mbale town, will be used to inspect all types of vehicles.
In March 2015, Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport awarded SGS an exclusive contract to carry out vehicle inspections countrywide on its behalf. The vehicle inspection exercise is carried out under “Safe Drive Uganda” – a road safety measure intended to ensure vehicle roadworthiness and reduce carnage on Ugandan roads.
This mandatory exercise is aimed at improving road safety by compelling motor vehicle owners and drivers to use safe and well maintained vehicles. Environmental conservation is an additional goal; vehicle emissions, one of the main sources of air pollution, will be tested.
The Mbale Station is the fourth of seven, fixed, vehicle inspection stations around the country. The first vehicle inspection station in Kawanda started operations on November 28, 2016. A mobile inspection station was set up at Namboole Stadium parking lot in February 2017, the second fixed inspection station in Nabbingo on Masaka road was inaugurated on 3rd May 2017 and the third inspection station in Namulanda on Entebbe Road was opened on 31st May 2017.
Since the mandatory exercise began, nearly 30,000 cars have been inspected at the three stations. In addition, three other fixed test stations are under construction in Namanve (Jinja Road), Mbarara and Gulu. Mobile units will cover several upcountry locations with sparse vehicle populations. SGS conducts almost 44 million vehicle inspections worldwide for both emissions and roadworthiness.