The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | On several occasions, drivers and motorcyclists have accused police of being selective while issuing Express Penalty tickets for violated traffic rules and regulations. For instance, Aramathan Musoke, a boda boda rider says he was arrested for riding past curfew time with his two other colleagues.
But Musoke says he was shocked when he was given an EPS ticket worth 100,000 shillings yet his two colleagues were given tickets of 40,000 shillings.
“Police is selective when giving these tickets, you can’t arrest us for riding in curfew hours but you give us different tickets, that is unacceptable,” Musoke said.
In response to arguments like Musoke’s, Assistant Superintendent of Police-ASP Faridah Nampiima, who is also the traffic police spokesperson said people should know that they don’t fine people for riding during curfew hours, but they issue tickets depending on the traffic offences committed by the rider or driver.
“We don’t have tickets for violating curfew time,” ASP Nampiima said. “That provision was given to the national Covid-19 taskforce to come up with penalties but they did not. So when we arrest or impound your car or motorcycle, we look at the traffic offence and we issue a ticket accordingly.”
Nampiima breaks down the fines in terms of money attached to each traffic offence which she insists must be known by all riders and drivers.
Below are the traffic offences and money penalties attached to them;
Offences that attract 40,000 shillings penalty include using or permitting use on the road a motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant without any insurance for the use, using or permitting use on the road a motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant whose registration plate or license is obscured or indistinguishable, failing to stop at a railway level crossing, riding a motorcycle without a valid driving permit and riding a motorcycle without wearing a crash helmet on the head.
Traffic offences such as driving without a valid driving permit, permitting driving without a valid driving permit, permitting a person not enrolled as a student in a driving school to drive a motorcycle, motor car, dual purpose vehicle or trailer, using a motor vehicle for carriage of passengers or goods for hire or reward when it is not licensed to do so all attract a fine of 100,000 shillings each.
Other traffic offences that attract a fine of 100,000 shillings include carrying more than one person in addition to the driver, on a motorcycle, carrying a person on a seat not securely fixed to a motorcycle, failing to give right of way to authorised emergency vehicles, carrying passengers on a motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant in such number or in such position as to be likely to interfere with safe driving, using a hand held mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle, using a motor vehicle without reflectors and or warning signs, in respect of a motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant, obstructing a road or waiting, or being left packed or being loaded or unloaded in a road.
The 200,000 shillings traffic penalty is for offences like using goods vehicle on a road in a manner which makes it a danger to other road users, using a vehicle operator’s license in breach of the license issued, driving a motor vehicle, trailer or engineering plant on a road under the influence of alcohol, driving excess of the prescribed speed, driving a public service vehicle without a valid drivers’ badge and certificate of compliance, using a motor vehicle for instructing learner without a valid certificate.
Other traffic offences such as using a motor vehicle which is not in good condition on the road, a driver in a vehicle not wearing a safety belt and passengers in a vehicle not wearing a safety belt attract 60,000, 80,000 and 20,000 shillings respectively.
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Was driving along hoima road around nabweru in nasana and I over took a slow moving lorry and on reaching oil com petrol station I was intercepted and stopped by awoman traffic ,she asked for my driving permit and checked my third party and she told me she is giving me a ticket for over taking and asked her why she said me overtaking is not allowed in that area and they was no any sign that shows overtaking is not allowed and this harrash police gave a ticket for 100k and she charged me for rickless driving and I came to know she is called Chelangat Sylvia attached to lubigi police station
Jack a road not having a sign doesn’t give you a ticket to drive wrongly, most of our roads have no signs but if you have been in a driving school, driven for while you will be able to know when, where to overtake, where to speed up and when not. My issue with some traffic officers is they will stop and allege you have committed this offense and will want to take money from you and if you don’t know the traffic rules which i believe every driver must know you will fall a victim. There is also a chance for you to go to court of law and disagree with the charge.
Overtaking per se is not an illegal manoeuvre so Tack may or may not have committed an offense. His situation is exactly what I faced a month or so ago where I implemented what I considered the correct overtaking protocols but still got a ticket for overtaking. After patiently trailing a van through a busy centre, on a straight section of the road (with over 300 meters visibility), I signalled, checked my side mirror (there was a white saloon car following me), checked the road ahead and there was no on-coming traffic, assessed the speed of the (dark green) van in front of me (it was slow moving, less than 30km/hr) so I safely overtook and returned to my lane. Ahead of me I was flagged by a traffic police woman who did the normal stuff (checked driving permit, 3rd party ect), she went away with my permit and came back and told me I’d be ticketed for overtaking. I was dumbfounded and politely but vehemently protested my innocence. I wouldn’t believe it so went over and checked my again just in case the roads were marked and signage installed the previous day on a road I’ve driven for the past 10 years. Nothing. I asked why it is illegal to overtake at that point and the only response I got was “you’re not supposed to overtake from here” My biggest challenge is that although it is not proof of guilt, it is not possible to get a EPS revoked. I’ve begged to be taken to court in vain.
Finally, I have sadly come to the conclusion that the EPS ticket is used by some errant officers as leverage to extract bribes. As far I can tell, there are only about three categories of people who get EPS tickets. 1. Those who refuse to pay bribes no matter what (whether they have committed any traffic violation or not), 2. Those who do have any money on them when flagged or without small notes or have large notes e.g. 50K, 3. Those without the right “connections”
Jack you are right no sign at all and you can defend that in court. You can over take as long as the way is clear. Unless is a corner or going uphill.
What are insinuating honestly? No road signs, no road marking, if drivers can be charged, why can’t heads roll in ministry of works? Let the govt do what’s right.
Musinguzi Joseph traffic officer in Wakiso, u will never see heaven.
The tax was going to park and it had already started indicating. I checked through both driving mirror and side mirror, no car that was following me and neither coming either way. When I over tool the the tax, Joseph with his tall arm stoped me. Maama here u are not allowed to overtake. Eeeee banange, as usual bring the permit what I did, thirdparty ✔️ Guy mbu I don’t have breakfast, but am giving u a ticket, konze as per your wish. The Guy printed the ticket of 100k and gave it to me with my permit, I will never forget u Musinguzi Joseph today at Kyoga
Police is nothing but a bunch of theives, who survive on bribes. That small money they extort from is will not build them massio, neither will they become rich. Shame on you police.