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Niwagaba highlighted the unfair treatment of Ugandan traders compared to foreign heavy truck owners on weighbridges along Mbarara - Kampala Highway (Parliament photo)
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By Our Reporter
PARLIAMENT - Ndorwa East MP Wilfred Niwagaba has called on the government to address allegations of extortion at weigh bridges in Lukaya (Masaka) and Mbarara, where traders with medium-sized vehicles are being charged Shs200,000 per crossing.
Niwagaba highlighted the unfair treatment of Ugandan traders compared to foreign heavy truck owners, who are allegedly not subjected to the same fees, despite carrying heavier loads. He expressed concern that local traders are being unfairly targeted by officials managing the weigh bridges.
“There is a lot of extortion on the weigh bridges, especially in Lukaya and Mbarara, targeting our traders with medium-sized vehicles. They are being charged Shs200,000 per crossing, while foreign trucks, often carrying heavier loads, are not charged,” Niwagaba stated. 
Nabbanja urged Niwagaba to provide concrete evidence of the extortion (Parliament photo)
In response, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged Niwagaba to provide concrete evidence of the extortion, assuring him that the government is committed to taking swift action against corrupt officers.
“If there are officers extorting our people, they will be prosecuted. We just need the evidence, and you know how serious the government is, especially me. We will handle those thieves squarely,” Nabbanja said.
The government has vowed to investigate the matter and prosecute any officials found guilty of exploiting traders at the weigh bridges.
Torch Media Africa
