423 Taxis Fail Roadworthiness Tests in Crackdown

What the report says

The Ministry of Works and Transport in Uganda says a large share of impounded commuter taxis failed mandatory roadworthiness checks during a joint enforcement operation with the Uganda Police Force. According to the ministry, 423 of 531 taxis stopped in the crackdown did not meet safety standards, while only 108 passed. The inspections were carried out at the Namanve and Kawanda vehicle inspection centres after the taxis were impounded during a Thursday night operation.

Ministry spokesperson Hadijja Nakakande said the failed vehicles had serious mechanical problems, including defective brakes, steering faults, worn tyres, suspension issues and poor lighting. She said such defects make the taxis unsafe for passengers and other road users. The ministry framed the exercise as part of a wider effort to remove unroadworthy commercial vehicles from public roads, especially those operating at night.

In a separate inspection drive for heavy dump trucks, the ministry said 390 of 492 vehicles passed, while 102 failed. That exercise followed an August directive requiring all heavy dump trucks, including Sinotruk vehicles, to undergo mandatory inspection within 60 days. The ministry said trucks without valid inspection certificates will not be allowed on the road, and operators risk impoundment if they ignore the rules.

The results underscore ongoing concerns about commercial vehicle safety in Uganda. More broadly, roadworthiness campaigns are a common transport-enforcement tool intended to reduce crash risks and improve compliance with maintenance and inspection requirements.