KAMPALA, Uganda – In a tragic week on Uganda’s roads, 86 people lost their lives in road crashes between June 23 and June 29, 2024. Another 380 individuals sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in various hospitals across the country, according to Michael Kananura, the spokesperson for the Traffic and Road Safety Directorate.
Kananura shared these alarming statistics during the weekly security briefing at the Uganda Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala. He detailed that the majority of accidents, 46 percent, involved motorcycles, commonly known as boda bodas, while 33 percent involved pedestrians.
The fatalities included 28 pedestrians, 27 motorcycle riders, and 12 motorcycle passengers. Additionally, 11 passengers in vehicles and five drivers were also among the deceased.
Kananura attributed the high number of accidents to several factors, with reckless overtaking accounting for 30 percent of the incidents. Reckless driving was responsible for 22 percent of the crashes, while tailgating, or following other vehicles too closely, caused seven percent of the accidents. About five percent of the crashes were due to drivers not following traffic rules.
“We have found out that some of these crashes happen in places where our officers are not deployed. We urge the public to use social media and our toll-free numbers to report traffic violations,” Kananura said. The toll-free number provided is 08001990699, and the WhatsApp number is 0779999999. He emphasized that public cooperation is crucial in restoring order on the roads and promoting safety.
As part of efforts to reduce road accidents, 148 vehicles were impounded in the Kampala Metropolitan area for traffic rule violations.
Road Accident Statistics (June 23-29, 2024)
| Incident Type | Number of Fatalities |
|---|---|
| Pedestrians | 28 |
| Motorcycle Riders | 27 |
| Motorcycle Passengers | 12 |
| Vehicle Passengers | 11 |
| Drivers | 5 |
Causes of Road Accidents
| Cause | Percentage of Accidents |
|---|---|
| Reckless Overtaking | 30% |
| Reckless Driving | 22% |
| Tailgating | 7% |
| Not Following Traffic Rules | 5% |
Vehicle Impoundment
| Region | Number of Vehicles Impounded |
|---|---|
| Kampala Metropolitan Area | 148 |
Kananura’s briefing highlighted the urgent need for increased road safety measures and public awareness to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on Uganda’s roads.
