The Traffic and Road Safety Directorate under the Uganda Police Force has confirmed a total of 412 road accidents with 390 victims and 63 deaths in a period of one week.

According to ASP Michael Kananura, the spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, the accidents occurred between December 3, 2023, and December 9, 2023.

“Out of the 390 victims, 63 lost their lives and 327 suffered injuries, and of the recorded fatalities, 27 people were involved in motorcycle accidents, comprising 14 passengers, 13 riders, and 26 pedestrians,” Kananura said.

Kananura attributed the common causes of these incidents to improper overtaking, over speeding, and following too closely while driving.

He urged drivers to obey traffic laws throughout the holiday season, noting that it is a time when many drive recklessly.

“As the festive season approaches, let’s make an effort to avoid becoming part of the crash statistics by adhering to traffic regulations on the roads. Remember, road safety is a shared responsibility; instead of blaming others, understand your role as a road user,” Kananura added.

At the beginning of December 2023, traffic police arrested a total of 523 drivers for defaulting on the traffic safety regulations regarding the use of driving licenses, of which 121 were caught driving without a license, 181 were apprehended with expired licenses, and 221 were arrested for driving without the appropriate class of license.