71 killed, 333 injured in 7 days in road accidents
Traffic police statistics reveal that 71 people were killed and 333 injured in road crashes over the past seven days. Among the deceased were 29 pedestrians and 28 motorcyclists, while the rest were passengers on motorcycles or vehicles.
Traffic police spokesperson SP Michael Kananura identified three major causes of these crashes as careless overtaking (26 per cent), speeding (21 per cent), and following too closely (10 per cent).
“We urge pedestrians to always cross at designated crossing points. When you reach the zebra crossing, stop and look at both sides of the road before you cross. We also urge drivers and motorcyclists to respect these zebra crossings,” Kananura stated.
Several zebra crossings in Kampala, such as those at the Postal Office on Kampala Road, Uganda Management Institute (UMI), and Nakawa near the URA exit road, have been identified as the most dangerous for pedestrians. Many pedestrians are struck at these crossings because drivers and motorcyclists do not respect them, despite their visibility.
Recently, a woman named Christine was fatally hit while crossing at a zebra point along Jinja highway near UMI’s entrance, sparking a debate on X.
The discussion highlighted the need for raised crosssings instead of painted crossings, arguing that raised crossings would compel drivers to slow down. In response to ongoing traffic violations, the police announced the resumption of operations against bodaboda riders without valid driving licenses.
“If you don’t have a driving license or if you have an expired driving license, you will be our target. Also, bodaboda riders without crash helmets and reflector jackets will not be spared,” Kananura said.
Relatedly, the police, in partnership with other agencies, have conducted refresher training for 1,500 drivers and motorcyclists in Hoima city and plan to extend this training to other regions. This initiative follows a Kigezi regional traffic sensitization workshop where more than 3,000 pupils received road safety tips.
