President Museveni has recently signed the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Act 2023 into law, aiming to address the issue of road accidents and enhance road safety in the country. The new law brings about a significant increase in fines for motorists driving beyond the prescribed speed limit, with the intention of restoring sanity on Uganda’s roads.
Under the amended law, the fine for speeding violations has been raised from Shs200,000 to Shs2 million. However, the government has introduced a distinction in penalties based on the method of payment.
Motorists who choose to pay the fine through the Express Penalty Scheme (EPS) will only be required to pay Shs200,000. On the other hand, those who challenge the fine and opt for the trial process in courts will face the higher penalty of Shs2 million.
The government’s decision to raise the fines is motivated by the alarming statistics revealed in the 2022 Annual Crime Report by the Ugandan Police. According to the report, there were 336,722 traffic offenses recorded in the country, with 6,130 cases specifically involving motorists driving beyond the prescribed speed limit. Additionally, the police issued 456,993 tickets for various traffic offenses, amounting to Shs38.585 billion.
In 2022, Uganda experienced a total of 20,394 road crashes, resulting in devastating consequences. Among these incidents, 3,901 were fatal, 10,776 were classified as serious, and 5,717 were considered minor.
The increase in fines for speeding violations aims to serve as a deterrent and encourage motorists to abide by the prescribed speed limits. By reducing the number of road accidents, Uganda hopes to create a safer environment for both drivers and pedestrians alike.