The Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety/ Chief Licensing Officer – Motor Vehicles at the of Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr. Winstone Katushabe has said it is time for action and no more talking in regard to road safety. Speaking at the launch this morning as the chief guest, he warned that any commercial and dump truck that will not be inspected by 16th October will be impounded by the government. He also the occasion to warn Sinotruk operators against transporting wet (Watery) sand which he says has been key in spoiling the roads.
He said it was a pleasure and an honour to join Double Q today at this important engagement focusing on road safety, commercial truck compliance and responsible operation of commercial equipment.
He thanked Double Q Co. Ltd for inviting him and, more importantly, for recognising that road safety cannot be achieved by Government alone. It requires the participation of manufacturers, distributors, importers, vehicle owners, fleet operators, drivers, mechanics, enforcement agencies, the media and every road user. The Ministry of Works and Transport has the responsibility to formulate policies, set standards, regulate and monitor the transport sector, while promoting safety and discipline.
Road safety is, however, a shared responsibility.
Below is his full speech at the function;
ROAD SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Every stakeholder in commercial transport has a role to play. Owners must maintain their vehicles; operators must ensure proper use; drivers must operate safely and within the law; manufacturers and distributors must support proper use, maintenance and technical understanding; and Government must establish appropriate standards, licensing and inspection systems and enforce the law fairly and consistently. The public also has a responsibility to use the roads responsibly and report dangerous practices where appropriate. When these responsibilities are neglected, the consequences can be serious. We therefore welcome initiatives by private-sector players such as Double Q that promote a culture of compliance rather than waiting for enforcement action after an incident has occurred.
VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
One of the critical pillars of road safety is ensuring that vehicles operating on our roads are roadworthy and compliant with applicable requirements. This is particularly important for commercial vehicles, which are large and heavy machines that often operate for long hours, carry substantial loads and travel considerable distances. A defect that may appear minor can become a major safety risk when combined with speed, heavy loading, poor road conditions or driver fatigue. We therefore encourage owners and operators to treat vehicle inspection and preventive maintenance not merely as regulatory requirements, but as essential elements of responsible business operations.Compliance should not begin when an inspection date is announced. Compliance should be continuous.
RESPONSIBLE COMMERCIAL TRUCK OPERATION
A safe truck must also be operated by a competent, properly licensed and responsible driver. Fleet owners and operators should ensure that drivers entrusted with commercial equipment are appropriately qualified, licensed and competent for the vehicles they operate. Safe driving requires discipline, attention, knowledge of the vehicle, respect for other road users and compliance with traffic laws.Companies employing drivers must equally ensure that commercial pressures do not encourage speeding, overloading, driving while fatigued or ignoring mechanical defects. Commercial efficiency must never come at the expense of human life.
LOAD CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE
Compliance with requirements relating to vehicle dimensions and loads is equally important. Overloading is not merely a matter of protecting roads; it can affect braking performance, vehicle stability, tyre performance, suspension components and the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. We therefore call upon truck owners, transport companies, cargo owners and drivers to take load compliance seriously. Safe loading is a responsibility shared across the entire logistics chain.
ROLE OF DISTRIBUTORS AND MANUFACTURERS
Companies such as Double Q occupy an important position between manufacturers and end users. Their responsibility should not end when the keys are handed over to the customer. A responsible distributor should help customers understand the equipment they purchase, its operating requirements, maintenance needs and appropriate applications. After-sales support, technical advice, servicing and customer education are also important.We therefore welcome Double Q’s decision to use this engagement to encourage customers and equipment operators to participate in Government road-safety and compliance programmes. Government sets and enforces the standards; the private sector has an important role in helping those standards succeed in practice.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR SAFER ROADS
The Ministry’s mandate includes enforcement, sensitisation and public awareness on safety and discipline in the transport industry. Engagements such as today’s are therefore valuable. The media also has an important role in informing the public and encouraging continuous attention to compliance. We should continue asking: Are commercial vehicles properly inspected and maintained? Are they properly loaded? Are drivers appropriately licensed and competent? Are operators complying with the law? Are companies putting safety before commercial pressure?These questions deserve continuous attention.
A CALL TO THE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT SECTOR
I appeal to owners and operators of commercial equipment supplied by Double Q, as well as the wider commercial transport sector, to make compliance part of normal business culture. Inspect and maintain your vehicles. Use appropriately qualified and licensed drivers. Respect load limits and vehicle requirements. Do not compromise safety for speed or profit. Address mechanical defects before vehicles are put on the road. Where Government introduces measures intended to improve road safety and compliance, participate constructively. Compliance should not be viewed simply as a burden imposed on business. A safer transport system protects drivers, passengers, pedestrians, businesses, infrastructure and the wider economy.
A MESSAGE TO DRIVERS
To our commercial drivers, I say this: You are among the most important people in the road-safety chain. When you are behind the steering wheel, you have direct responsibility for the lives and property around you. Do not drive beyond your ability or the limits of the vehicle. Do not ignore defects. Do not overload. Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances. And do not allow commercial pressure to make you take unnecessary risks. Always remember that every journey ends with one objective — arriving safely.
CONCLUSION
Distinguished guests, Uganda needs a transport sector that supports economic growth while protecting human life. We need safe trucks, properly managed roads, competent and responsible drivers, compliant operators, effective inspection and licensing systems, and a private sector that sees itself as a partner in building a safer transport system. The Ministry of Works and Transport remains committed to its regulatory, licensing, inspection, enforcement and road-safety responsibilities. We equally welcome constructive partnerships with vehicle distributors, manufacturers, fleet operators and other stakeholders.I commend Double Q Co. Ltd for organising this engagement and for placing road safety and commercial vehicle compliance at the centre of today’s discussion.Let us all recognise that road safety is not the responsibility of Government alone. It is a responsibility we share.Let us work together to promote a culture where every vehicle is properly maintained, every driver is appropriately qualified, every load is properly managed and every road user is treated with care and respect. Our collective objective must remain clear: SAFER VEHICLES. RESPONSIBLE DRIVERS. COMPLIANT OPERATORS. RESPONSIBLE COMMERCIAL TRANSPORT. AND SAFER ROADS FOR ALL UGANDANS.
“I thank you for your attention and wish Double Q Co. Ltd, its customers and all stakeholders represented here a successful engagement.Thank you, and may God bless Uganda,” Winstone concluded.
