The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The traffic police statistics for September indicate that they collected Shillings 170 million in penalties from drunk drivers and those driving above the speed limit. According to the September report, 474 drivers were arrested and fined Shillings 200,000 each for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Furthermore, 380 drivers were apprehended using footage from the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras for exceeding the speed limit of 100km/h on the Entebbe Expressway. Similar to the drunk drivers, the police issued a Shillings 200,000 fine to these speeding drivers.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Micheal Kananura, the Traffic police spokesperson, explained that many drivers have been disregarding the speed limit of 100km/h on the Entebbe Expressway.
“Drivers drive beyond the prescribed speed along Entebbe Expressway because they know we don’t have traffic personnel at all points. But we have our CCTVs which we use to capture these people and we issue them with tickets,” SP Kananura said.
Out of the Shillings 170 million collected, Shillings 94 million came from penalties on drunk drivers, while Shillings 76 million was from speeding fines. The drunk drivers were apprehended primarily on high-risk roads during the night, including the Northern Bypass, Entebbe Expressway, Jinja Road, Kira Road, and Entebbe Road.
“We also impounded 569 motorcycles because the owners did not have driving licenses, reflector jackets, and crash helmets. This was part of our Fika Salama Extra operations on various roads,” SP Kananura said. Siraje Mutyaba, the leader of Boda boda riders in Kampala central division, said that they have stopped intervening in matters related to motorcyclists arrested for not wearing crash helmets, having driver licenses, or reflector jackets.
“We have participated in police sensitization workshops where we have sensitized bodaboda riders on the importance of wearing crash helmets and having driving licenses. Many seem not ready to respect the traffic laws and we have given up on them,” Mutyaba said.
Meanwhile, SP Kananura reported that there were 71 fatalities and 287 serious injuries resulting from traffic accidents last week. Of the 71 deaths, 28 were Boda boda riders, seven were passengers on motorcycles, and 17 were pedestrians.
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