TAXES: Govt procures 2 weighbridges for Karamoja

Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has procured two weighbridges for the Karamoja sub-region.

The procurement of the weighbridges follows several calls from different stakeholders over the absence of proper measures to determine taxes from the minerals and also to help control the load on the trucks to protect roads from damage.

Mineral exploitation in Karamoja formally started in 2002 when Tororo Cement acquired a Mining Lease for limestone in Tapac Sub County, Moroto district. Since then, several mining companies have been exploiting minerals and declaring their returns from Karamoja without much interference from the government due to the absence of the weighbridge.

Although the government is currently undertaking an aerial survey to understand Karamoja mineral potential, the region is already supplying limestone, marble, gold and other minerals to different parts of the country and the world.

Gabriel Data, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of geology at the Ministry of Energy says the weighbridges will now enable the government to track under declaration of revenue from mining companies. He says the priority will be given to bulky minerals like marble in Moroto.

Gerald Eneku, the Inspector of Mines for the Karamoja sub-region says they are yet to decide on the areas where the weighbridges will be installed. Eneku says there are many porous routes currently being used by trucks to transport minerals from Karamoja.

“I have seen truck drivers resort to small routes while carrying marble and limestone from Karamoja. If we decide to put these weighbridges at the base like Rupa or Tapac sub-counties where the minerals are extracted, we shall incur losses. We shall need to install the weighbridges to take care of all the main routes to Karamoja including Moroto- Soroti Road, Moroto- Nakapiripirit- Mbale Road and the northern route”, he said.

Besides measuring the load on trucks, some modern weighbridges are critical control points on any site and provide a multitude of benefits including improved traffic flow, reduced bottlenecks, enhanced site security, cost savings and improved workplace safety.

David Koryang, the LCV Chairperson Moroto is hopeful that the weighbridges will boost the revenue for the government to improve service delivery to the people of Karamoja.

“It has been our concern and people have been asking about the weighbridges in every meeting on minerals. It’s a blessing to us if indeed the government has procured the weighbridges”, he said.

According to Eneku, the weighbridges were accompanied by a drilling rig that will be used in the assessment of mineral deposits. The equipment is still in Kampala.

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