The Ministry of Works and Transport is working on several regulations under the traffic and road safety Act 2020 (as amended) to enforce discipline and sanity on the roads. Uganda is currently losing at least 10 people on average every day to road accidents.
During the launch of the Traffic and Road Safety Act 1998 (Amendment) Act, 2020 held on 28th May 2020 at the ministry’s headquarters, the minister of Works and Transport Gen. Ktumba Wamala, stated that the new law will help reduce chaos and also hold reckless road users culpable for their acts and misbehavior.
“The act provides for a demerit point system where points are attached to the driving license. The points can be deducted if the holder is convicted of certain traffic offences prescribed under regulations,” he said.
The commissioner of Works and Transport Winstone Katushabe, cited some of regulations reviving that effective July this year, all drivers of commercial vehicles will undergo fresh training in an effort to curb road accidents.
According to Katushabe, the ministry has formulated regulations in consultation with the key stakeholders and they intend to implement the demerit point system regulation.
However, these offences attract a fine and when the offences accumulate maximum points on the driving license, the holder can be suspended and can no longer drive.
Demerit point system is a regulation that will encourage safe and responsible driving. Demerit points are penalty points that one receives if they commit certain offences.
