Cabinet approves Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill 2018

By Stephen Kalema

Cabinet has approved the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill 2018.

According to deputy government spokesperson Col. Shaban Bantariza, one of the objectives why this Bill was approved is to strengthen the management of road transport and safety in Uganda.

The Bill was approved on Monday during a Cabinet meeting at State House Entebbe. Bantariza said that, the Bill will harmonize all traffic regulations.

“This bill will correspond with international traffic laws, regional and National laws, it will also help to improve the management and regulation of road transport services,” said Bantariza while addressing journalists at Uganda Media Center.

However, the Bill bans importation of motor vehicles which are eight years old or more from their date of manufacture. Motor vehicles for the transportation of goods must have a gross vehicle weight at least six tones. The Bill is also going to vary the motor vehicle registration fees provided for in the Finance Act 2013 and environmental levy on motor vehicles provided for in the Finance Act, 2006.

Bantariza said that, all the amendments done in this Bill are intended to provide for the continuous technology innovations including Information and Communication Technology  (ICT) innovations in transport services sector in the country.

Meanwhile, Cabinet also approved the provisions of Minamata Convention on Mercury and authorized the Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign, seal and deposit the instrument of ratification in accordance with section 3 of the Ratification of Treaties Act, Cap.204.

Bantariza said that, this convention is mostly meant to control the supply and trade in Mercury, including setting limitations on specific sources of mercury such as, primary mining and control use and production of mercury-added products and manufactured processes.

The treaty will address direct mining of Mercury, its exports and imports and safe storage since the main objective of this Convention is to protect the human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.