The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga (pictured) has asked the Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda to direct Ministry of Works and Transport and Traffic Police not to arrest, fine or impound vehicles of motorists driving without driving permits until the transition from Face Technologies to Government is finalized for all people to acquire driving permits.
The Speaker gave the directive yesterday following a matter raised by Latiff Ssebaggala (Kawempe North) who wondered why Police was arresting motorists for not being in possession of driving permits yet their attempts to acquire new permits have been hampered by the contractor, Face Technologies’ failure to issue permits but rather give out temporary permits.
He requested the Speaker to intervene as far as rights of drivers is concerned because most of them have fulfilled their obligations but the problem is with Face Technologies.
“We have a delay in as far as issuing driving permits is concerned and many drivers are finding it hard on the road. When you go to Face Technologies, they tell you they don’t have materials, they are waiting for materials to print the permits and yet when they are given temporary permits, the traffic officers don’t respect the temporary permits and yet most of those drivers have paid their money but up to now they haven’t been issued the permits,” Ssebagala said.
Robert Ssekitokelo (Nakifuma County) who also doubles as Chairperson Parliament’s Physical Infrastructure Committee revealed that when the matter came up in the Committee discussions, the Ministry of Works blamed the delays to acquire driving permits on the transition from the private contractor to Government.
“Indeed there is suffering in this area however in a committee meeting this morning with Minister of Transport, we were informed that Face Technologies is winding up their contract by the end of February 2021 and the Ministry has published a public announcement to effect that the new driving permits and any other renewals commencing 1st March wont be done by face technologies but Uganda Security Printing Company on behalf of the Ministry of Works,” Ssekitoleko.
He added: “This disorganization is due to the transition because even the venue is going to change from Kyambogo to Uganda Railway Corporation.”
However, Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula South) lashed out at Government for the confusion surrounding the permits saying, “We told Government about Face Technologies. It is a company that was given a contract of five years they worked for 15years they were supposed to remit money, they didn’t and at the end of the day, they are walking away with the loot from Uganda.”
Speaker asked the Ministry of Transport to instruct police to allow drivers without permits to conduct their business as Government sorts out the transition.
“I think we need a transitional arrangement where the Police can be told to allow people to drive because there are no driving permits until March. I think it is important they are told about that,” Kadaga remarked.
