The Ministry of Works and Transport, and the Uganda Police Force have taken their 2025 Road Safety Week campaign to Tororo District, bringing together transporters, community leaders and enforcement agencies in a joint effort to curb the rising number of road accidents.
At a sensitization meeting held under the theme “Safe Vehicles for a Safe Uganda,” participants emphasized that reckless riding, poorly maintained vehicles, and blatant disregard for traffic rules are among the leading causes of accidents in the region. Police officers warned against dangerous practices, including reports of riders speeding at night while holding torches in their mouths.
Transporters, however, pushed back arguing that the problem is not only driver behavior, but also stems from poor road infrastructure, inadequate signage, and corruption among enforcement officers.
Officials then inspected the dangerous stretch along the Tororo-Mbale Road, where new zebra crossings have recently been installed to improve pedestrian safety.
Representing the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Apollo Kaswangu urged public government collaboration in fostering safe driving culture a sentiment echoed by Sarah Achieng Opendi, the woman MP for Tororo, who called for discipline among drivers and enforcement personnel alike.
Recent data from the police reveals a grim picture: at least one person dies from road crashes in Tororo each month, contributing to the broader national average of 14 deaths daily and over 5,000 annually.
As part of the Road Safety Week measures, transporters are now being required to carry valid permits, ensure their vehicles remain roadworthy, and strictly adhere to traffic regulations all in a bid to reduce fatalities
In similar developments Tororo is experiencing rapid infrastructural growth, highlighted by Devki Group’s $500 million steel plant, expected to create up to 20,000 jobs and strengthen Uganda’s iron ore based industrialisation. The municipality has also received designs for a Shs 7.7 billion modern abattoir in Mukuju Central Village under UCMID, aimed at improving public health and urban services. Government plans to elevate Tororo to city status include new road projects such as the Tororo–Nagongera–Busolwe corridor and upgrades of health centres to HCIV level. Meanwhile, the ongoing 400 kV Karuma Tororo transmission line and new substation promise more reliable power for industry and households.
