Police on Monday launched a fresh crackdown on unsafe public transport vehicles, impounding 178 public service vehicles (PSVs) found operating with dangerous mechanical defects across Kampala.
The vehicles were seized on Monday, August 24, during enforcement operations conducted across the three Kampala Metropolitan Police areas.
KMP North recorded the highest number of impounded vehicles with 63, followed by KMP South with 62, while 53 vehicles were seized in KMP East.
The total number of vehicles impounded was 178.
Police say the operation is aimed at getting mechanically unsafe vehicles off the roads before they cause accidents and put passengers and other road users at risk.
The crackdown targets public service vehicles because they transport large numbers of people every day, meaning a mechanical failure can have serious consequences.
Police are particularly warning operators against putting vehicles on the road when they have defects that could affect their safety and performance.
The Force has urged owners and operators to make regular mechanical inspections and maintenance a priority rather than waiting for police enforcement operations to expose defects.
Drivers have also been advised to ensure that vehicles are in proper mechanical condition before starting their journeys.
Police say a vehicle that is mechanically unsafe does not only endanger the passengers inside it. It can also put motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users in danger.
The 178 impounded vehicles are currently being held at various police stations within the Kampala Metropolitan area.
Owners and operators have been advised to rectify the identified mechanical defects and ensure that their vehicles meet the required safety standards before putting them back on the road.
Police have warned that the operation will not end with Monday’s arrests but will proceed through the 100 days of a campaign initiated by the Ministry of Works and Transport. Last week, the Ministry of Works and Transport directed police to remove unroadworthy taxis, commonly known as “Ganyegenya,” from roads in Greater Kampala and surrounding areas, in a 100-day operation aimed at protecting passengers and other road users.
The Minister for Works and Transport Fred Byamukama said that some taxis are in such a poor mechanical condition that they pose a serious danger to passengers, drivers and other road users.
Further enforcement operations will continue across Kampala Metropolitan Police until public service vehicle operators comply with road safety requirements.
On Monday, the Traffic’s spokesperson at the Uganda Police stated that Police and the Ministry of Works and Transport stepped up surprise operations along major highways. Recent joint operations were conducted at Maya-Nsanji on the Kampala-Masaka Highway and Matugga along the Kampala-Gulu Highway.
Officers checked mechanical condition, driving licences, badges, route charts, passenger numbers, dangerous loading and other violations.
Several drivers were arrested, including heavy truck drivers allegedly driving outside their licensed classes. Some taxi operators were also caught carrying more passengers than permitted, while private motorists were arrested for other offences.
Police say compliant vehicles are allowed to continue their journeys, while offenders face enforcement action.
Police have reminded operators that maintaining a vehicle is not simply a business requirement but a matter of public safety.The Force says there will be no compromise where the safety of passengers and other road users is concerned.
With the enforcement operations expected to continue, PSV owners and drivers have been given a clear warning: fix defective vehicles before putting them on the road.
Safety first. Compliance is not optional.
