New vehicle load control bill approved in EAC

Date: 23/2/2012

New transport regulations have been approved by ministers from partner states in the East African Community (EAC).

The vehicle load control bill will bring about a more unified approach to governing the amount of cargo commercial vehicles carry on routes in the EAC, the Daily Nation reports.

It is hoped this will save businesses and governments billions of dollars, both through reduced transport fees and road maintenance.

Currently, a truck travelling from Mombasa in Kenya to Kampala in Uganda spends around 19 hours crossing weighbridges and borders - something the new regulation hopes to reduce.

John-Martin Ambesta of the East African Import-Export development association added: "Corruption and inefficiency have dogged our transport systems. This will go a long way in ensuring transparency."

This comes just after Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda reached an agreement on the construction of a new rail network in east Africa that will improve trade links with South Sudan, the East African reported.

Posted by Nick Anderson