UNRA Given Tough Tasks As Gov’t Moves To Control Road Carnage In New Resolutions
The Minister of Works and Transport will table regulations operationalising the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 2019 by 13 August 2023.
This was agreed upon in a crisis meeting convened by Speaker Anita Among on Thursday, 13 July 2023 to address increasing road accidents.
“Whereas the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998 has attendant regulations that have aided its operationalisation, the Roads Act 2019 which addresses various aspects of road safety, does not have regulations,” Among said.
She added, “There is a need for regulations to operationalise Section 57, 58 and 59 on the towing and auctioning of abandoned or broken down automobiles on carriageways.”
While chairing the plenary sitting later in the afternoon, Speaker Among briefed the House that UNRA had offered eight vehicles to tow cars abandoned along the roads.
“UNRA needs adequate resourcing for requisite equipment for communication and towing abandoned vehicles,” said Among.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Works and Transport, the Executive Director, Uganda National Roads Authority, the Government Chief Whip, the Leader of the Opposition, Uganda Police Force and the Ministry of Health.
The meeting resolved that there is a need for strengthening road monitoring and surveillance for amongst others, timely detection and removal of abandoned vehicles on carriageways and reprimanding errant drivers and road users.
The government was also urged to invest in automatic number plate recognition cameras, linked to ticketing of offenders and speed guns.
“Automation of regulatory and monitoring processes to minimise human contact and reduce incidents of corruption and influence peddling,” read the resolutions in part.
It was also agreed that mass media platforms will be used to educate and sensitise the public on road safety in order to shape road user behaviour.
“The Minister of Information and Communication Technology and National Guidance, and Uganda Communications Commission should ensure the immediate dissemination of pop up messages on road safety to all mobile phone subscribers,” said Among.
She added: “Local leaders should also sensitise the masses on the need to comply with road safety rules and regulations.”
The meeting also called for adequate resourcing of the road safety function across the relevant agencies.
“The meeting was notified that out of the required budget of Shs20 billion for road safety, only Shs5 billion was released,” said Among.
The Speaker further said that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should increase the recurrent budget allocation to UNRA, the works ministry Works and the Police for immediate road safety interventions.
The meeting also agreed that the Uganda Police Force should scale up monitoring and enforce compliance with the right of way and use of lead cars, sirens and LED lights on automobiles, adding that those culpable of breaches should be prosecuted.
“Government vehicles continue to be the highest perpetrators of traffic offences including road crashes. There is a need for more responsible use of government vehicles backed by sanctions for misuse as prescribed in the Public Service Standing Orders,” Among added.
It was further resolved that the installation of speed governors in all vehicles to regulate speeding should be re-introduced.
The meeting also directed UNRA to immediately remove roadside markets and taxi parks that have encroached on roads and road reserves, for example in the areas of Kireka, Kyaliwajjala (Wakiso District), Lukaya (Kalungu District) and Busega in the capital, Kampala.
Below are the detailed resolutions
IMMEDIATE INTERVENTIONS:
- Enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations:
Whereas the Traffic and Road Safety Act, of 1998 has attendant regulations that have aided its operationalization, the Roads Act, 2019 which addresses various aspects of road safety, does not have regulations.
There is a need for regulations to operationalize sections 57, 58 and 59 on the towing and auctioning of abandoned or broken-down automobiles on carriageways.
UNRA has immediately offered at least 8 tow vehicles to tow abandoned vehicles.
The Minister of Works and Transport must expedite the development of regulations to operationalize the Roads Act, 2019.
The Minister of Works undertook to table regulations operationalizing the Roads Act, 2019 within one month (by 13th August 2023).
- Streamlining the motor vehicle registration function under the Ministry of Works and Transport which requires an additional UGX. 40 bn.
- The Minister of ICT and National Guidance and Uganda Communications Commission should ensure the immediate dissemination of pop up messages on road safety to all mobile phone subscribers.
- Replacing missing road furniture:
Such as road signs, reflectors, fences etc. and exploring the use of appropriate alternative materials to minimize vandalism and theft.
- Conclusion of the Memorandum of understanding between the public agencies responsible for transport and road safety and the private sector on towing of abandoned vehicles.
- Sensitization and enforcement of Motor Third Party Insurance:
Whereas Motor third party insurance, introduced by the Motor Vehicle Insurance (Third Party Risks) Act in 1989, provides for compulsory insurance against third party bodily risks in respect of the use of vehicles, often times victims of accidents are not indemnified.
There is need for more sensitization on Motor Third Party insurance.
- Increased public education and awareness on road safety in order to shape road user behavior.
There is need for constant and consistence sensitization of the general public on road safety using all available mass media.
The meeting was notified that out of the required budget of UGX 20bn for road safety, only UGX. 5bn was released.
There is therefore need for adequate resourcing of the road safety function across the relevant agencies.
- Uganda Police Force should scale up monitoring and enforce compliance with the right of way and use of lead cars, sirens and LED lights on auto mobiles. Those culpable of breaches should be prosecuted.
- Responsible use of Government vehicles
Government vehicles continue to be the highest perpetrators of traffic offences including road crashes. In 2022, over 500 Government vehicles were involved in accidents.
There is need for more responsible use of Government vehicles backed by sanctions for misuse as prescribed in the Public Service Standing Orders.
- Compliance with speed limits
There is need for stringent enforcement and increased sensitization of road users on compliance with speed limits. There is urgent need to re-introduce the installation of speed governors in all vehicles to regulate speeding.
- UNRA is directed to immediately remove roadside markets and taxi parks that have encroached onto roads and road reserves for example Busega, Lukaya, Kireka and Kyaliwajala.
- Local leaders should sensitize the masses on the need to comply with road safety rules and regulations.
- The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should increase the recurrent budget allocation to UNRA, Ministry of Works and Transport and Uganda Police Force for immediate road safety interventions.
MEDIUM-TERM INTERVENTIONS
- Re-introduction of periodic mandatory vehicle inspection under the Police Force. This requires adequate resourcing and equipping of the Uganda Police Force.
- Adequately equipping the relevant enforcement agencies with the relevant toolsincluding but not limited to numbers, equipment and automobiles to aid the effective enforcement of the law.
Particularly for driver testing and training, there is need to reduce physical contact between enforcement personnel and drivers to minimize incidences of corruption.
Government should invest in automatic number plate recognition cameras, linked to ticketing of offenders and speed guns.
- Strengthening roads monitoring and surveillance for amongst others, timely detection and removal of abandoned vehicles on carriage ways and reprimanding errand drivers and road users.
UNRA needs adequate resourcing for requisite equipment for communication and towing abandoned vehicles.
LONGTERM INTERVENTIONS
- Automation of regulatory and monitoring processes to minimize human contact and reduce incidents of corruption and influence peddling.
- Enhancement of budgetary provisions to the relevant agencies in the road safety value chain.
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- General strengthening of road safety monitoring and enforcement
Enforcement of speed limits around blind and black spots notably markets, schools and other public facilities.
- Road designs should match the growing population of people and vehicles and strategic development plans of the country.
- The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should increase the development budget allocation to UNRA, Ministry of Works and Transport and Uganda Police Force for road safety related interventions.
