Security officials in Luuka District have met with members of the boda boda fraternity and sugarcane truck drivers to address the rising cases of road crashes that have resulted in permanent injuries and loss of lives.
The meeting, held at the Bulongo Sub-county headquarters, was led by the Assistant Resident District Commissioner Umar Ntogona. It was attended by the Busoga North Regional Officer in Charge of Traffic, SP Naigaga Sharifah, and the District Police Commander (DPC), SP Namutunzi Diana.
SP Naigaga urged all drivers to ensure they possess the necessary requirements before using the roads, emphasizing that authorities will not hesitate to prosecute anyone found driving without proper qualifications, including valid driving licenses. She noted that compliance is essential for their safety and for reducing accidents in the district.
“We organized this meeting involving truck drivers and owners, boda boda riders, sugarcane cutters, and loaders because accidents have been on the rise. We had to convene this engagement to discuss how the situation can be addressed,” Ms. Naigaga said. She called on all road users to remain vigilant while using the roads.
She further explained that although some sections of the road have been renovated, the road is yet to be fully constructed, making it necessary to prepare road users—especially truck drivers and boda boda riders, who are the most frequent users.
“They have renovated some parts of the road, but accidents are still many. We needed to prepare and caution them ahead of the planned road tarmacking,” SP Naigaga added.
Ntogona said government has been lenient with road users but warned that traffic police will now intensify enforcement. He urged drivers to value their lives, as well as the lives of their passengers and other road users.
He noted that drivers had previously been spared in the hope that they would improve their conduct, but many continue to drive without valid licenses.
“President Yoweri Museveni leads a government that first sensitizes people before carrying out arrests. We have come to remind you that arrests will follow. If you are careless with your own life, it becomes easy to be careless with the lives of others,” Ntogona said.
Ntogona warned drivers who deliberately ignore traffic rules and display indiscipline on the roads that they will be arrested and prosecuted.
He added that no one will be spared in the newly launched operation dubbed ‘Mutataliza,’ meaning “no one will be spared.”
“Before you kill innocent Ugandans, we have first come to sensitize and remind you as we launch the ‘Mutataliza’ operation today. All boda boda riders, truck drivers, and others who violate traffic rules will be dealt with according to the law,” he stated.
Several fatal road crashes have recently been recorded in the district. The most recent occurred in Kyanvuma Town Council, where a school-going child was knocked dead by a speeding sugarcane truck. The incident was preliminarily attributed to reckless driving.
