The Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda has issued a stern warning to owners and operators of commercial trucks, emphasizing that safety must take precedence over profit. Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety, Winstone Katushabe, addressed a media conference in Kampala on September 25, 2026, highlighting the importance of road safety as a shared responsibility. He stressed that achieving road safety requires the participation of all stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, importers, vehicle owners, fleet operators, drivers, mechanics, enforcement agencies, the media, and every road user.
According to Katushabe, while the Ministry is mandated to formulate policies, set standards, regulate, and monitor the transport sector, every stakeholder has a crucial role to play in ensuring road safety. He emphasized that owners must maintain vehicles, operators must ensure proper use, drivers must operate safely and within the law, and the Government must enforce standards fairly and consistently. This multi-faceted approach aims to reduce the risks associated with commercial trucking and promote a culture of safety.
Katushabe cautioned that even seemingly minor defects can become major safety risks when combined with factors such as speed, heavy loading, poor road conditions, or driver fatigue, particularly for large commercial vehicles that operate for extended periods. He encouraged owners and operators to treat vehicle inspection and preventive maintenance as essential elements of responsible business operations, rather than merely as regulatory requirements.
The Commissioner urged fleet owners to ensure that drivers are appropriately qualified, licensed, and competent, and warned companies against pressuring drivers into speeding, overloading, or driving while fatigued. He also emphasized the importance of safe loading practices, noting that overloading can significantly affect braking performance, vehicle stability, tire performance, and the driver's ability to control the vehicle.
Katushabe underscored the role of equipment distributors and manufacturers, emphasizing that their responsibility should not end at the point of sale, but should extend to after-sales support, technical advice, servicing, and customer education. He appealed to the wider commercial transport sector to prioritize safety, urging operators to inspect and maintain vehicles, use qualified drivers, respect load limits, and address mechanical defects before vehicles are put on the road.
To commercial drivers, Katushabe emphasized their critical role in the road-safety chain, urging them not to drive beyond their ability or the limits of the vehicle, not to ignore defects, not to overload, and not to drive under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances. He also warned against allowing commercial pressure to compromise safety, stressing that every journey should end with the objective of arriving safely.
The Ministry of Works and Transport reaffirmed its commitment to its regulatory, licensing, inspection, and enforcement mandate, while welcoming constructive partnerships with the private sector to build a safer transport system for Uganda. Key stakeholders, including truck owners and operators, are expected to take these warnings seriously and implement necessary measures to prioritize safety over profit.
Key points
- The Ministry of Works and Transport emphasizes that road safety is a shared responsibility that requires the participation of all stakeholders.
- Truck owners and operators are urged to prioritize safety over profit and make road safety part of their business culture.
- The Ministry welcomes partnerships with the private sector to build a safer transport system for Uganda.
