Uganda Motor Industry Association seeks to edge SGS out of vehicle inspection

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Motor Industry Association which brings together vehicle importers has petitioned parliament to give them the contract for motor vehicle inspection. Government contracted SGS or SGS-Societe Generale De Surveillance, a Swiss firm in 2015 to conduct the mandatory vehicle inspection.

However, Government has been considering canceling the contract because of bribery, influence peddling, high inspection fees, ownership of SGS and the lack of clarity on how the company would hand over to government when its exclusive fire year contract expires.

Now, a year to the end of the contract, SGS and government are re-negotiating a fresh 5 year contract. Following the petition from Uganda Motor Industry Association, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde to advise the house on the request by the association.

Kadaga’s directive to the ministry comes at the backdrop of the Buy Uganda Build Uganda-BUBU campaign. Kadaga told Parliament that Uganda Motor Industry Association claims to have the capacity to conduct the inspection yet government is considering a foreign firm. She says there is need for the minister to advice parliament on the matter so that they can see how Ugandans can benefit from the arrangement.

There have also been calls for the Uganda Police Force through the Traffic department to take over the motor vehicle inspection. Before it was suspended in 1998, Uganda Police was in charge of vehicle inspection.

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