In a statement  released by the ministry of works and transport, the exercise has been halted pending a consultation process. The automated express penalty system was introduced last month however it was vehemently opposed by drivers citing a lot of irregularities  the system.
At a consultative meeting where the drivers presented a petition to the ministry, Â they expressed dissatisfaction with the system, asking the ministry to halt this exercise. This forced the meeting to end prematurely after the drivers presented certain proposals.
The meeting ended prematurerly after the commissioner in charge of licencing officer Wilson Katushabe refused to respond to their demand because he was supposed to consult the minister in charge of transport.
The drivers also expressed concern on the charges which went from 300,000 shillings  and 600,000 shillings which they described as a technical way of extorting money from them.
The drivers  also opposed the penalties proposing a reduction of 100,000 shillings payable immediately .Drivers still claim  the penalties were the highest in the east African region therefore had to be revised.
These  also challenged the credibility of this russian company which was contracted  to fix kilometers which are supposed to  Ugandans roads contrally to the kilometers which had been fixed by UNRA.
The drivers have also questioned the speed limits which had  been fixed in urban centers which they claims is unrealistic. The drivers further claimed the amendments were sneaked into the existing traffic regulation without fully analyzing them   because the president proposed to have digital number plates for security reasons but not as traffic regulations.
However the commissioner says they cited some  anomalies which they have studied after fully analyzing the report with the minister.
Meanwhile Katushabe insists that the regulations are not targeting tax drivers but they are intended to reduce road accidents.
The commissioner further says he has no mandate to implement their demand asking the drivers to wait for the minister’s final decision.
The drivers had also threatened to have asit down strike the following week of government had not considered halting  the exercise.
