UGANDA POLICE REMAINS UNSWERVING IN THEIR PURSUIT TO ENSURE SAFETY ON THE ROAD

BY DAVID BALILETE

On Sunday, June 22, 2025, a road safety campaign launched by the Uganda Police was held at Bwaise Terminal, in Bwaise, Kawempe Division, which falls under the Kampala North Area, a region that came third on the list of areas with the highest road crashes in Uganda according to the 2024 Annual Police Crime Report.

During the campaign, the Traffic Police Spokesperson, Micheal Kananura, revealed that, “We’re doing this across the country, but basically having every other stakeholder on board; whether you’re a Chairman LC1, you have a role to play.”

Amidst all this, it’s safe to say that it is quite reassuring to see that the Uganda Police is ultimately dedicated to its role in restoring road sanity in the country.

I remember ,one year ago, a neighbor of mine, a single mother of four, on her way back home from work ended up having her entire leg amputated, as a result of reckless driving by a bodaboda cyclist, who she moreover forewarned from foreseeing a potential tragic flip of events, but he responded to her in a rude manner, calling her “a villager” who wasn’t well-versed with common Kampala bodaboda culture and no sooner had he ignored her request than he crashed into an over-speeding car, when he drove forward through a returning one-way road, around Mulago Hospital. His reckless behavior not only cost her her leg, but her job as well and a good livelihood for her children. The bodaboda accident perpetuator fled the scene of the crime.

It should not be forgotten that Kampala North Area alone recorded a whopping 376 fatal road crashes in the previous annual Police Crime Report 2024! I, therefore, feel that this effort by the police, comes at a point when it is desperately needed by the Ugandan citizens. If implemented, this will be seen to promote awareness of traffic rules including knowing and understanding of traffic signals, traffic signs and speed limits; respecting other road users that involves recognizing and understanding the needs and behaviors of other road users like pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers: recognizing possible hazards such as poor weather conditions, blind spots, road construction and last but not least; promoting safety practices such as wearing seatbelts, using appropriate safety equipment (like helmets) and avoiding distractions while driving or walking.

The Police Directorate working with the Uganda Bodabodas Riders’ Cooperative Union, have already trained 50 road safety champions and the Chairperson for the Uganda Bodaboda Riders’ Cooperative Union had this to say, “We’ve partnered with the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, we’re going to have mass training of bodaboda riders on the road usage, and motor cycle usage.” Kananura further added that the role of the road safety champions is not to arrest other riders, but to amplify the Police’s message of safety.

I, therefore, commend the Ugandan Police for championing the road safety awareness promotion pursuit, that will see to the restoration of road sanity and good road practices that will help curb down the contribution rate of road fatalities to the mortality rate in Uganda.

The Writer works For Uganda Media Centre