Ministry of Works and Transport has attributed the rising number of road crashes to the sharp increase in vehicle ownership.
Speaking at the opening of the Uganda Road Safety Conference 2025 at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Minister of Works and Transport Gen Edward Katumba Wamala said the rise in road use has not been matched by safe driving practices or sufficient infrastructure upgrades.
“The number of vehicles is increasing, but many people still ignore speed limits and other traffic signs. Road safety must be taken seriously, not just to save lives but also to protect our economy,” Katumba said.
He revealed that Uganda loses an average of 14 people daily to road crashes, including two school-going children.
He described the situation as “heartbreaking and preventable,” and stressed that the consequences go beyond families and health systems; affecting national development.
To address the crisis, Gen Katumba announced the rollout of the Express Penalty Scheme, a new system that allows traffic enforcement officers to apprehend and fine offenders on the spot.
“We are putting up systems, strategies, and policies to improve road safety across the country,” he said.
Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo reaffirmed the government’s political will to confront the road safety crisis, emphasizing the connection between safe mobility and economic progress.
“Road crashes are not just a transport issue, they are a national development issue. We cannot transform our economy if we continue losing productive lives to preventable road accidents,” She said.
She called for road safety to be mainstreamed into all development planning, including education, workplace safety, and community-level efforts. “Everyone has a role to play,” she noted.
The road safety conference is taking place during the UN Global Road Safety Week (May 12–18) under the theme “Road Safety for Socio-Economic Transformation.” It brings together policymakers, civil society, development partners, and road safety advocates.
The conference aligns with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aims to halve global road deaths by 2030. Uganda’s leaders say the country remains committed to meeting that goal.
