The Ministry of Works and Transport has promised to enhance road safety by strengthening legislation, updating traffic regulations, and enforcing stricter measures to curb road crashes.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Friday, February 28, 2025, Minister of Works and Transport, Gen. Katumba Wamala, announced plans to launch safety zones around schools and hospitals.
“We shall provide guidelines on how these will be employed to protect pedestrians, especially school-going children and hospital patients,” he stated.
The Ministry’s commitment follows concerns over rising road crashes, particularly in school zones due to reckless driving and over speeding.
“We are going to implement the 30km per hour speed limit in all trading centers, which will be strictly enforced around school zones and hospitals,” Katumba said.
Highlighting challenges in high-risk areas like Mulago Hospital, he noted, “Some of you have seen how difficult it is for patients to cross roads, yet some drivers hoot instead of stopping. We will work with the hospital and schools to install safety zones and guidelines to reduce crashes in these congested areas.”
The Minister commended the police for maintaining updated road crash statistics but emphasized that data should drive better planning.
“We are not satisfied with keeping numbers. We want those numbers to reduce, and we will use them to plan a safer road network,” he said.
To improve vehicle safety, the ministry will operationalize mandatory vehicle inspections. Katumba revealed that the government had taken over the SGS inspection facilities and would use the March-June period to educate the public and train personnel.
“Come July 2025, we will fully enforce mandatory vehicle inspections. No new vehicle will receive a license without undergoing testing at our centers,” he said.
The Ministry will also enhance motor vehicle data management to support road planning and law enforcement in collaboration with the police.
Additionally, Katumba urged Parliament to increase funding for road safety initiatives, arguing that road safety should not be seen as a mere expense but as a crucial investment in saving lives.
Recent police reports indicate a rise in road crash fatalities, with deaths increasing from 4,806 in 2023 to 5,144 in 2024, while serious injuries rose from 15,000 to 16,000. Motorcycles remain the leading cause of fatalities, accounting for 47% of crashes.
Katumba announced new regulations to enhance boda boda safety requiring all motorcycles to be sold with two ISO-standard helmets.
“Some riders wear construction helmets or substandard headgear, which are not safe enough. From now on, every motorcycle registered must come with two certified helmets,” he emphasized.
The Minister called for public cooperation in adhering to safety regulations, “Dear fellow countrymen, we must commit ourselves to reducing road crushes, let each one of us commit to life, and mind our safety as we reduce the road crushes by half come 2030.’’ he urged.
