…if assented to, law shall be a hallmark in maintaining region’s road infrastructure

East African Legislative Assembly, Kampala, Uganda May 29 2013: Trade facilitation in the region is expected to shift a notch higher following the passing with amendments of the EAC Vehicle Load Control Bill, 2012 on the floor of the House this afternoon.

The Bill moved by the Chair of Council of Ministers, Hon Shem Bageine, envisages control of vehicle loads, harmonised enforcement and to make institutional arrangements for the Regional Trunk Road Network for the Community. The Bill sets the permissible maximum Gross Vehicle weight at a metric tonnage of 56. At the same time, the vehicles shall have a maximum of seven axles.

According to Hon Bageine, the main objective of the Bill is to achieve efficient and effective control of vehicle overloading in the region as a basis for reducing accelerated deterioration of road networks and as a consequence, reducing total transport costs.

Inefficient transport is a major challenge frustrating the objective of widening and deepening co-operation among Partner States.   In particular, overloading of vehicles along the regional trunk road network is a major hindrance of regional road infrastructure leading to high costs of road maintenance, Minister Bageine remarked.

The tabling of the Bill was preceded by a Report of the Committee on Communications Trade and Investments (CTI) which held public consultations on the subject matter with various stakeholders in the Partner States in March 2013. The consultations were held to gather public views and to understand likely opportunities and challenges while enumerating recommendations.

Among the stakeholders consulted included: truck drivers associations, weights and measures agencies, revenue authorities and the Bureau of Standards.  Others were the police, traders and the clearing and forwarding agencies.

The Report presented by the Chair of the CTI, Hon Angela Charles Kizigha, observes the shortage of necessary infrastructure and technological facilities to facilitate the Vehicle Overload Bill.   It also notes the delay by the Council of Ministers to come up with the necessary regulations thus recommending for the development, upgrade and modernisation of facilities.   At the same time, it recommends that the Council of Ministers conducts sensitisation programmes to ease the implementation of the law.

During debate today, several Members rose up in support of the Bill. Hon Abdulkarim Harelimana remarked that it was necessary to maintain roads in order to facilitate trade.    Hon Dan Kidega said the region’s infrastructure needed to be enhanced.

‘I would be happy to see a situation where the rail network also becomes functional’, he stated.   Hon Abubakar Zein Abubakar hailed the law making process that involved public participation and called for additional resources towards sensitisation once the law is assented to.  Hon Bernard Mulengani said the Bill would reduce costs of doing business and called on Partner States to ensure its full implementation.

He said scrutiny and oversight by the Assembly was a necessary.  Hon Patricia Hajabakiga said it was important for Non-Tariff Barriers to be removed.   She joined in the rallying call for more resources towards public hearings. On his part, Hon Joseph Kiangoi termed corruption a major vice and supported the penalties for offences envisaged in the Bill.

Hon Shy-Rose Bhanji noted that a good road network was the backbone of inter-state trade.  She called for scrutiny on the part of irresponsible truck drivers who tend to overload cargo in between the weighbridges. Hon Judith Pareno remarked that surveys had shown that HIV and AIDS were prevalent in the road control centres owing to delays in clearing of trucks. Other Members who rose in support were Hon Abdullah Mwinyi, Hon Bernard Murunya and Hon Dr. James Ndahiro.

The EAC Secretary General, Amb Dr. Richard Sezibera hailed the Council for bringing forth the Bill and noted that another eleven Bills were on the cards to be tabled before the House.  He remarked that the Bill was informed by thorough research and scientific studies.

The Bill is divided into 8 main parts.   Part 1 has preliminary clauses while the legal load limits and overloading fees are enumerated in Part 2.   The Obligatory weighing of vehicles and the special categories of vehicle loads are contained in the Part 3.   The four last sections deal with clauses on operations, enforcement, institutional arrangements, offences and penalties.

Yesterday, the Committee on Trade and Investments met with the Council of Ministers to further refine the clauses of the Bill. The Bill shall now await assent by the Heads of State before becoming Community Law.