SGS, the company contracted by government to carry out mandatory vehicle inspection has today Saturday October 14th carried out an awareness campaign in Kyengera town council targeting taxi drivers and boda boda riders.
During the event at Kyengera town’s council grounds, SGS Nabbingo branch manager Yusuf Ssesazzi explained that the exercise is meant to benefit motorists especially those used for public transportation like taxis. He also addressed a public misconception that the company confiscated DMCs, explaining that its not in SGS’s mandate to do such.
“The public has a misconception that we confiscate mechanically damaged cars, this is not true. Our mandate is to inspect your vehicle and advise accordingly,” he said.
Ssesazzi added that when one brings their vehicle for inspection, if it has any damaged, they are given a 30days chance to visit their mechanics and return for inspection without paying any more money. However, if one returns after the mandatory 30 days, they would have to pay the original amount.
At the same event, Ronald Amanyire, the secretary, National Road Safety Council also told motorists that the ministry of works in liaison with the police will any time from today, start arresting every driver whose machine has no sticker from SGS. He also explained that the current police operations to arrest DMCs is just police work, and is not in any way a ministry of works operation.
Currently, taxi drivers are required to pay Shs. 120000 while boda boda riders pay Shs.54000#.
One needs a log book and any identification card to have their vehicle or motorbike inspected.
The event attended by SGS officials, Ministry of works officials, police and local leaders ended with a football match between boda boda riders and taxi drivers which ended 1-0 in favor of Taxi operators.
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. SGS has so far Open inspection stations in Kawanda Vehicle Inspection Station on Bombo Road, Nabbingo Station on Masaka road, Namulanda Inspection station on Entebbe Road, or to our mobile station at Namboole Stadium Parking or Mbale Vehicle inspection Station- the brand new station on Tororo – Mbale road. Since the mandatory exercise began, nearly 30,000 cars have been inspected at the three stations