Uganda Government acknowledges ug200m Penalty For Over Speeding

Annews24.com, Government proposes Shs200m penalty for speed limit defaulters in new Bill.

 Government has proposed a Shs200 million penalty for drivers who default speed limits along public roads.

The Bill once passed will penalise those who drive above the recommended speed as well as those who driver below the prescribed speed limit. The fine is contained in the Road Bill, 2018 that is currently before parliament.

Clause 54 (3) of the Bill, reads, “A person who fails to comply with a speed limit set under subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand currency points (Shs200,000,000) or imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or both.” A currency point is equivalent to Shs20,000.

Subsection 54 (1) vests powers to the minister of work and transport to prescribe the speed limits in regard to all public roads or sections of public roads.

The Bill also prescribes tough sanctions for damage and inappropriate use of public roads, including demonstration by way of burning tyres or digging holes, walking on the road under the influence of alcohol or other narcotics, among others.

Dumping and any other form of littering on public roads will be punishable by a fine of Shs200 million or a jail sentence not exceeding five years, while those who construct in road reserves would face a Shs400 million penalty.

A road reserve is proposed to be 40 metres from the middle of the road, on either sides. Contractors who fail to implement agreed designs and standards will not be spared either.