In 2023, the Traffic Police Directorate of Uganda amassed a significant sum of sh41 billion in penalties, as revealed in a recent crime report by Senior Commissioner of Police Lawrence Niwabiine, who was acting as the director at the time.
According to Niwabiine’s report, a total of 528,027 tickets were issued to drivers and motorcyclists for various violations. These included offenses such as driving vehicles with dangerous mechanical conditions, careless driving, riding without crash helmets, driving without a valid driving permit, and obstructing roads by loading or offloading.
The most prevalent offense was driving a motor vehicle in dangerous mechanical condition, with 99,068 offenders, followed by obstruction on roads by loading or offloading, which had 95,667 offenders. Driving without a valid driver’s permit ranked third with 77,430 cases.
While the issued tickets amounted to sh41.4 billion, a fraction of sh421.3 million remained unpaid by traffic offenders. This discrepancy has sparked varied opinions among road safety experts regarding the efficacy of traffic penalties in promoting safer road usage.
Susan Tumuhairwe, the programs coordinator at Safe Way Right Way (SWRW), advocates for the use of penalties as a means to foster responsible and cautious behavior among drivers and riders. She believes that penalties, if effectively enforced, can serve as a deterrent measure, contributing to enhanced road safety.
Contrary to Tumuhairwe’s perspective, Fredrick Kiapi, the project manager of Hope for Victims of Traffic Accidents (HOVITA), asserts that traffic penalties have minimal impact on road safety outcomes. He notes that while penalty revenue is directed to the consolidated fund, there is inadequate investment in road safety initiatives by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
Analysis of the data reveals that November recorded the highest number of traffic offenses, totaling 53,684 cases, resulting in a collection of sh3.77 billion. In contrast, December, typically marked by festive celebrations, witnessed a decline in traffic offenses, with only 25,921 tickets issued and a collection of sh1.388 billion.
Police attribute the decrease in December’s traffic offenses to intensified law enforcement operations against offenders during the holiday season. Additionally, heightened vigilance among drivers and efforts to address vehicle maintenance issues contribute to the observed reduction in road violations. Senior Commissioner Niwabiine highlights that the majority of crashes occur between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., emphasizing the importance of targeted enforcement measures during peak risk periods.
