President Museveni has given his approval to the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill 2023, turning it into enforceable law in Uganda.
The new legislation aims to promote safety on Ugandan roads by imposing strict penalties on motorists who exceed the prescribed speed limits. Offenders will now face fines of up to 2 million Ugandan shillings or a jail sentence of up to three years, or both.
Under Section 119A(3) of the newly enacted law, failure to adhere to the speed limit is deemed an offense. Upon conviction, individuals may be subjected to fines not exceeding 100 currency points or imprisonment for a maximum of three years, or both. It is worth noting that one currency point is equivalent to 20,000 Ugandan shillings.
The specific speed limits in Uganda vary based on the location and type of vehicle being driven. For example, on highways, motorcycles and saloon cars must not exceed 100 km per hour on paved roads and 80 km per hour on gravel roads. Vans, pick-ups, and trucks weighing less than 3500kg should not surpass 80 km per hour on paved roads and 60 km per hour on gravel roads. Mini buses or taxis are limited to 80 km per hour on paved roads and 60 km per hour on gravel roads.
Buses and coaches, on the other hand, must not exceed 80 km per hour on paved rural roads and 60 km per hour on gravel roads.
In addition to the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill, President Museveni also assented to five other bills, including the Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Bill 2023. This particular legislation increases the tax rate on gaming activities from 20 to 30 percent, generating additional revenue for the government but potentially impacting the gaming industry significantly.
Another notable law that received presidential approval is the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2023. Starting from July 1, 2023, platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook, among others, will be subject to taxation if they generate income from Uganda. According to the law, customers using these platforms to sell or engage in any business within Uganda will be taxed five percent of their gross sales.
Furthermore, the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Bill 2023, the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2023, and the Appropriation Bill 2023 also received assent from President Museveni.
All the newly enacted laws will come into effect on July 1, 2023, marking a significant shift in traffic regulations, tax policies, and administrative matters in Uganda.
