Government Orders Inspection of All Sino Trucks in Two-Month Road Safety Drive

What the report says

Uganda’s government has ordered mandatory mechanical inspections for all Sino trucks operating in the country within two months, saying vehicles that do not comply will face enforcement action. The move was announced on Wednesday during a joint road safety operation in Kampala led by the Ministry of Works and Transport, with support from the Traffic Police, Old Kampala Police Division and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

According to Nile Post, the inspection drive is part of a broader campaign to improve compliance with transport rules and reduce road crashes. Officials said the effort is beginning with passenger buses, but will expand to other vehicle categories. During the Kampala exercise, bus operators including Friendship Coaches, Perfect Coaches and Jaguar Coaches were assessed for safety and regulatory compliance.

Commissioner for Transport Regulation and Safety Winstone Katushabe said Sino trucks must pass inspection to remain on the road, and that uninspected vehicles may be impounded while drivers are arrested and prosecuted. He also said authorities will profile truck drivers to check training, competence and professional qualifications. As reported by Nile Post, bus drivers at the scene urged government to extend safety checks to heavy commercial vehicles, saying they are often involved in serious crashes.

The initiative reflects a wider push by Ugandan authorities to address road carnage by focusing on both vehicle condition and driver fitness. In general, such campaigns are often used to strengthen compliance in public transport and heavy freight sectors, where failures can have serious safety consequences.