Burning tyres on roads is illegal in Uganda in the new Roads Act 2019
In the past years, many people have been burning tyres on roads during protests to manifest their dissatisfaction while others, burnt tyres to celebrate a new year.
Now to those who enjoy the practice, it seems to have ended with the new law in place.
The Uganda government says; burning tyres on roads, reduces the life span of roads, yet it’s very expensive to construct a road, and according to the new law in place, anyone found burning tyres on the road will be subjected to imprisonment not exceeding five years as per the Roads Act 2019.
The State Minister for Works, Gen. Katumba Wamala while at the launch of the new law said that road repairs have costed government huge sums of money because of reckless handling, that includes burning tyres.
“The roads are so expensive to construct and we cannot allow people to spoil them. I call upon the public to familiarize with this law because it will affect their daily usage of the road,” Katumba said.
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“At every demonstration, you see people burning tyres, yet this affects the life span of the road. with the new law, the people arrested will not go scot-free. There is a penalty for it.”
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He adds that the new law was necessary to replace the outdated law which is no longer effective in planning and maintenance of the roads, as a result of technological advancement.
“They had become outdated and no longer effective in planning and maintenance of the roads network. Over the years, there has been a tremendous increase in the size of the road network and traffic volumes. Also, innovative technologies have been introduced and implemented framework for road management has changed,” Katumba added.
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Further, Katumba said the Road Act 2019, takes a comprehensive approach to the regulation of the planning, construction and maintenance of roads in the country.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in September 2019, approved the Roads Act 2019, nullifying the Roads Act, cap 350 of 1949 and the Access to Roads Act, cap 350 of 1969.
The new law states that any person who places or burns on a public road, any substance that can damage the road, bridge, ferry or pontoon commit a crime, according to Section 63 of the Roads Act 2019.
Upon conviction, the criminal is subjected to a fine not exceeding 120 currency points equivalent to 2.4m Uganda shillings, imprisonment not exceeding five years or serve both punishments.
Other criminal offences in the new law include; causing water and sewage to spill onto public roads, spilling oil on public roads, and destruction of pavements.
