SGS Uganda played host to this year’s International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee and Regional Advisory Group Meeting in Kampala. The organization brought together all members of the Automotive Industry worldwide. As part of the Conference activities, the Committee visited the SGS Vehicle Inspection Plant in Namulanda. It was there that Veros Owate the Chairperson of the Regional Advisory Group explained that vehicle inspection in conjunction with other road safety initiatives had been successful in many parts of the world.
Led by Thomas Cocus the Vice President of SGS, the delegation comprising of members from Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa and Algeria were in the country for two days. “The program we developed in Uganda with the Ministry of Transport for Ugandan is a beginning program of the SGS to fight road accidents in Africa. All members are very impressed with our initiative and our investment and we are very protected here to show what can be done.”
Records with SGS Uganda showed that 32% of vehicles were registered with problems of faulty suspension systems, worn out brakes and lighting. “This has been in Uganda for many years but since Kawanda our first stations opened in 2016, I would say that yes we keep hoping to be part of the social solution production in Uganda. Some of our partners in Turkey, we were listening to stories through the conference yesterday and the statistics are as high as 25% reduction in road accidents in Turkey after the introduction of vehicle inspection. So I would say yes, the vehicle inspection in Uganda will definitely lead to the reduction in road accidents.”
The company inspects 180 vehicles on daily. In March 2015, the government signed a contract with SGS to routinely inspect vehicles largely to get cars in poor mechanical condition off the road and reduce accidents. “Our aim is to create awareness of road safety around the world but particularly Africa. We are here to learn from each other and to have a display of our beautiful inspection station in Namulanda.”
