The latest police crime report reveals alarming statistics regarding road safety and homicides, especially during the peak hours between 6 pm and 9 pm. According to the report, an average of a dozen Ugandans are murdered daily, alongside a similar number dying in road crashes.
Released on Wednesday, the findings highlight pedestrians as the primary victims of accidents, closely followed by Boda Bodas, which the Traffic and Road Safety Director, Mr. Lawrence Nuwabiine, attributes to the majority of crashes. The leading causes identified include speeding, careless overtaking, and tailgating, among others.
Furthermore, the report identifies metropolitan Kampala, Greater Mbarara, and West Nile as the leading accident hotspots in the country. Despite an overall decrease in crime prevalence by 1.5 percent, murders and traffic offenses have spiked, with the latter increasing by 15.4 percent.
In absolute numbers, the report indicates that 1 pedestrian and a significant number of Boda Boda riders and passengers lost their lives in road accidents. Moreover, accidents involving buses, sedans, trucks, and commuter taxis accounted for a total of 900 fatalities.
Mr. Nuwabiine, a senior commissioner of police, noted a steady increase in road crashes from 2019 to 2023, particularly among motorcyclists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Despite concerted efforts by police, political leaders, and stakeholders to mitigate these risks, road crashes and related deaths persist.
Efforts to enhance road safety have garnered support from various quarters, including the Road Safety Advocacy Coalition Uganda (Rosacu), which collaborates with the government and partners to advocate for policy and legal reforms. Initiatives such as increased penalties for traffic offenses and public awareness campaigns led by organizations like Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U) aim to address these challenges.
However, the 2023 Police Crime Report indicates a grim reality, with 4,806 fatalities resulting from road accidents, marking a 15 percent increase from the previous year. Notably, a significant number of fatal accidents occur during peak traffic hours, highlighting the urgency of intervention.
Mr. Nuwabiine stressed the importance of education and engineering interventions in reducing road crashes and urged all road users to exercise caution, emphasizing the preventable nature of road accidents.
Additionally, police issued a substantial number of express penalty tickets in 2023, generating revenue for the government. Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Tom Magambo echoed concerns over the high number of deaths from homicides and road accidents, emphasizing the need for behavioral change to ensure public safety.
Despite these efforts, the report reveals an increase in mob action cases, prompting calls for firm action against perpetrators. President Museveni and Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola have issued directives to address mob justice and curb violent crime, underscoring the importance of upholding the rule of law.
