Parliament has directed the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), traffic police, and the Ministry of Works and Transport to tighten the implementation of road safety guidelines.
This was announced by the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Anet Among, while chairing the plenary session on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
Speaker Among said Section 59 of the Road Act 2019 that empowers the government to tow away parked vehicles on urban roads within two hours and within six hours on rural roads or have the vehicle owners serve a jail term of four years or pay a fine of Shs1,920,000 or both. Must be implemented to the letter.
According to Among, this will help curb the increasing number of road accidents resulting from stationed vehicles on the roads.
“If we implemented the Road Act, 2019 to the letter, then we would not be having all these problems. I want to urge the Minister to implement the law, especially Section 58, to tow those vehicles that break down on the road” Among added.
The speaker cautioned the ministries, departments, and other agencies to do more road safety campaigns that will discourage drink-driving, over speeding, and reckless driving that leads to the loss of lives.
“I implore the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to revise the road designs, improve the dual carriage roads, and do away with small, narrow roads,” said Among.
MP Jonathan Odur (Erute South) says it is a criminal offense as stipulated in the Road Act, 2019 to leave a vehicle on the roadside beyond 30 minutes.
MP Linos Ngompek of Kibanda North blamed the highway road accidents on poor road signage.
Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Transport said government is committed to ensure that the law is fully implemented.
Last week, Apollo Nyagamehe, also known as Aponye, a Kampala billionaire, died in a road accident after his vehicle rammed into a stationed vehicle.
According to the latest police annual crime report, over 4000 people die in accidents every year.
The same report put the number of deaths by boda boda accidents at five people every day.
