December statistics worry Police, as 2020 road accident figures shoot up

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Records from the Traffic Department of the Uganda Police shows that most road accidents happen in December.

Statistics of last year alone show 1,445 accidents were recorded in the 31 days of December translating into 46 accidents while 14 people died per day. Last December’s deaths were slightly higher than the annual daily fatalities of 12 people. In total, 3,663 people died in accidents in 2020 meaning, twelve people per day.

In 2019, deaths recorded every day in December stood at 12 people yet the annual average daily road fatality was 11 people. Eight people died in accidents every day in 2018 but in December of the same year, 10 people lost life per day in road crashes.

The police also record several deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents in January.

Mustafa Mayambala, who has been in the public transport business for more than 15 years, attributes the high number of accidents in December to a big number of people moving from one place to another.

Mayambala who is also a leader of the taxi drivers’ association adds that during December, people come from various parts of the country to purchase items for selling during the festive season while others come to buy merchandise for their families.

“In December, many people come to Kampala and others leave Kampala going to villages. Some people buy cars and insist on going to villages driving themselves. They end up crashing even before reaching their destinations. We have also scenarios of drivers who want to make a lot of money and over speed targeting to make return journeys,” Mayambala says.

Julius Kanuuma, a private driver puts the high deaths in accidents to lack of lanes or walkways for pedestrians cyclists and motorcyclists. He says that the lack of such road interventions makes vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles and pedestrians compete for the very narrow roads.

“Many roads in this City and other urban areas are very narrow. The same roads are used by all sorts of people ranging from pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of all types of vehicles. Some of these roads have potholes and some accidents happen when drivers and riders are dodging potholes,” Kanuuma reasons.

The acting Traffic Director, Lawrence Niwabiine, attributes the high road deaths and injuries in December and January to the behavior of riders, cyclists and drivers. Niwabiine says people in December drive as life is ending.

Even though Niwabiine acknowledges that December and January attract a lot of activities that include Christmas, the end of the year, the New Year and school reopening, he maintains that such deaths and injuries can be avoided if all road users are respected one another and road rules and regulations.

Abdul Tumwesigye, who has been operating a shop along Kampala road attributes accidents to lack of safe parking areas at busy places such as shopping venues. This, according to Tumwesigye, makes many people squeeze their vehicles on the roadside and some people are knocked dead while leaving or entering shopping centres.

“We need parking space where people can walk freely and enter a shopping centre. But because we lack a properly planned parking venue, we find ourselves competing with motorcycles, cars and pedestrians. I see people get knocked just leaving shops here ,” Tumwesigye says.

A few years ago, Savino Katsigaire, who was director of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development proposed for off-street public parking spaces in urban areas within residential areas, industrial zones, commercial zones, and social facilities, recreation and sports areas.

“In the Central Business District, commercial and business zones, multi-stored car parking should be considered as a long term prospect. In residential areas, where on-street parking is not practical, public car parks should be provided,” Savino suggested.

Omongo Ndugu, the Executive Director Uganda Professional Drivers Network- UPDN, believes the highest number of accidents in December and other months is because of attitude and lack of a supervisory mechanism in driver training schools.

“Some people see pedestrians as less important people. Drivers tend to undermine motorcyclists and always want riders to give way even where it is a squeezed place. The attitude about other road users is one of the major causes of accidents,” Ndugu said.

Niwabiine cities other reasons cited for high carnage in December and January as markets on roadsides where there are no crossing venues for pedestrians. People are often knocked dead as they cross from one side of the road to another.

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