KAMPALA ANNUAL ROAD SAFETY REPORT REVEALS ALARMING TRENDS AND URGENT CALL FOR ACTION

The launch of the third Kampala Annual Road Safety Report and Mass Media Campaign on December 11, at the Mayor's Parlour painted a grim picture of road safety in the city, revealing consistent and alarming statistics that demand immediate attention.

Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago expressed deep concern over the persistently high number of road traffic deaths, with 400 lives lost annually and a rate of 12 persons per 100,000 population.

Lukwago emphasized the need for urgent action, particularly focusing on the safety of pedestrians and motorcyclists, who account for a staggering 94% of crash fatalities in Kampala.

A recent fatal accident at Namboole, involving 12 cars, highlighted the urgent need for addressing the city's road safety challenges.

Lukwago stressed the importance of implementing a safe systems approach, targeting the improvement of infrastructure and establishing a dedicated road safety unit at the Ministry of Works to coordinate efforts and regulate traffic management.

The report developed by Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) revealed a 1% increase in reported deaths in 2022, reaching 425, with a marginal drop in the death rate from 12 to 11.6 per 100,000 population. However, reported crashes increased by 5%, indicating a growing concern.

Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, accounted for a staggering 94% of deaths in 2022, with motorcyclists alone contributing to 49% of fatalities.

The findings also indicated a high proportion of male victims (76%), with the age group 20 to 29 years representing the highest percentage of deaths (22%).

High-risk fatal crash locations were identified along major roads, including Gayaza roundabout (Kalerwe)-Kyebando Police Post, Kissasi-Naalya roundabout, Entebbe Road, Ggaba Road, and Busega-Namugoona roundabout, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.

Sylviane Ratte, Director of the Global Road Safety Program at Vital Strategies, urged a comprehensive approach to address the identified crash areas, emphasizing the importance of enforcement and infrastructure improvements.

Senior Commissioner of Police Lawrence Nuwabine commended Mayor Lukwago for his commitment to road safety, pledging continued support from the traffic police and road safety directorate. Nuwabine stressed the significance of transparent statistics in guiding their work.

Nuwabine called for reevaluation of strategies and a stronger emphasis on a safe system approach, including the regulation of motorcycle sales and improved public transport.

The report will serve as a foundation for evidence-based decision-making to reduce road traffic deaths in future reports.

The Ministry of Works and Transport, represented by Judith Karara the Senior Road Safety Officer, acknowledged the need for rethinking strategies and protecting pedestrians through the safe system approach.

Eng Jacob Byamukama emphasized the urgency of implementing change and policy improvements.

KCCA with support from the government and other partners has undertaken a number of measures to improve road safety but the challenge persists.

Some of the measures include creating walkways on roads, painting pedestrian crossings along city roads, installing humps and speed limit signages, and training boda bodas among others.

The launch concluded with a collective call to action, urging stakeholders to lobby for road safety, implement effective enforcement and training strategies, and work towards creating a safer urban environment for all road users in Kampala.

Story By Geoffrey Mutegeki Araali

Communication and Media Relations Officer