Traffic Police intensify checks on overloaded vehicles along Masaka Road

Traffic Police intensify checks on overloaded vehicles along Masaka Road

The Ministry of Works and Transport and Traffic Police have stepped up road safety enforcement along Masaka Road, targeting overloaded vehicles, missing documentation, unroadworthy vehicles and suspected drunk driving.

KAMPALA — The Ministry of Works and Transport, together with Traffic Police, has intensified inspections along Masaka Road as authorities step up efforts to curb road crashes and enforce safety regulations.

The operation, conducted at several checkpoints along the busy corridor, targeted vehicles suspected of carrying excess loads, operating without proper documentation or being driven by motorists under the influence of alcohol.

The teams were led by Commissioner for Transport Winston Katushabe and Traffic Police officers, including Deputy Director of Traffic ACP Norman Musinga.

The inspection covered heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses and other public transport vehicles operating along the Masaka Road corridor.

According to the ministry, officers checked vehicle roadworthiness, licensing and documentation, loading practices and the condition of drivers.

The exercise also included breathalyser tests for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, although the ministry said most of those tested passed.

“This operation is intended to enforce the existing traffic regulations and ensure that vehicles on our roads are safe, properly licensed and not overloaded. We want to reduce the number of crashes and protect the lives of road users,” the ministry said.

One of the vehicles intercepted was a bus travelling from Tanzania that was found carrying passengers alongside a large quantity of luggage.

The luggage occupied a significant portion of the passenger compartment, leaving travellers with limited space.

Katushabe and Musinga directed the passengers to disembark with their luggage after determining that the loading arrangement posed a safety risk.

The driver was subsequently questioned as officers sought to establish the circumstances surrounding the violations.

Musinga said both the driver and conductor were arrested following the inspection.

“We found a number of violations on this bus, and we have taken action against the driver and conductor. The passengers had to be removed from the vehicle because their safety was at risk,” Musinga said.

He said enforcement would continue to ensure that public transport operators comply with safety regulations.

“We are going to continue with these operations to make sure that public transport vehicles comply with the regulations and that passengers are not exposed to unnecessary risks,” he said.

The operation also targeted heavy trucks, including Sino trucks, which have become increasingly common on the Masaka Road corridor.

The ministry said inspections would cover both the trucks and their drivers, with officers checking vehicle condition, documentation and compliance with safety requirements.

“We are not only looking at the condition of the vehicles. We are also checking the drivers and their documents to make sure that they meet all the requirements,” the ministry said.

The enforcement exercise caused temporary traffic congestion along sections of Masaka Road as motorists were stopped at checkpoints for inspection.

The ministry and Traffic Police said similar operations will be conducted in other parts of the country as authorities seek to reduce road crashes, improve vehicle safety and curb overloading.

However, some drivers whose vehicles had been parked by the roadside over missing documentation raised concerns about charges they said were being imposed at different checkpoints.

The drivers asked the Ministry of Works and Transport to provide clearer information and sensitisation on the applicable charges and documentation requirements to avoid confusion during enforcement operations.