The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) traffic report for 2022 has revealed that Northern Bypass roundabouts and junctions are the most deadly to road users.
The statistics launched on Monday show Kalerwe and Sentema roundabouts are spots where pedestrians and motorcyclists are mostly crushed to death.
In 2022, Kalerwe roundabout whose crashes are mostly recorded at Kyebando police post showed 68 pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists crashed to death. This was a tremendous increase in road deaths at the Kalerwe roundabout stretch compared to 13 people who died in 2021.
Statistics collected from police posts, and police stations as well as from hospitals Mulago and Naguru China-Uganda Friendship Hospital show 425 people died in Kampala crashes which is an increase compared to 419 who perished in 2021.
“Vulnerable road users are pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists who made up 94% of deaths in 2022. Motorcyclists alone accounted for nearly half of the deaths in 2022. Males accounted for 76% of the reported fatalities. The highest proportion of deaths was recorded among victims aged 20 to 29,” reads the report.
Like the traffic police data, KCCA data has shown that the biggest number of road crashes occur between 6 and 8 pm but those that claimed the highest number of lives happened between 8 and 10 pm.
Stellah Namatovu, the surveillance coordinator for Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative (BIGRS) and one of the people who compiled the KCCA traffic data said there is a need for increased enforcement in the evening hours.
“Since these crashes occur between 6 and 8 pm and those fatalities are majorly happening between 8 and 10 pm. We therefore recommend increased enforcement to reduce these road deaths and injuries,” Namatovu said.
Lawrence Niwabiine, the traffic police acting director said the police’s effort is to automate all policing whether during day or night hours. Niwabiine said they want to rely majorly on digital systems such as CCTVs to do policing.
“We always get these reports and this is the third about KCCA traffic crashes. But the question is what is next? Are we going to be coming here every year to release the statistics and we go back The data should help us to find a solution so that next time we tell people what we have done to reduce these crashes,” Niwabiine said.
Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, extolled BIGRS for sponsoring road safety efforts in Kampala metropolitan but recommended that there should be joint synergies between police, KCCA, and the Ministry of Transport to ensure road safety are prioritized and all gaps leading to deaths and injuries are addressed.
“Our colleagues in the police are handling the criminal aspect of road safety. They are focused on who has broken the law and that is their duty. Yes, they impound motorcycles because riders are not wearing crash helmets, what of passengers? Have we condemned them to death?” Lukwago said.
Lukwago said if there were monthly meetings for all sectors obliged to ensure road safety, it would have a bigger impact than releasing annual traffic reports without action being taken to address the gaps.
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