Masindi Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Darius Nandinda has raised concerns over a surge in road accidents, attributing most cases to reckless sugarcane truck drivers operating without side mirrors and driving at high speeds.
According to Nandinda, the accident rate in the district has reached 20% since January 2025, a figure he describes as alarmingly high.
Masindi, the leading sugarcane-growing district in the Bunyoro sub-region, supplies cane to Kinyara Sugar Factory, Kyenjojo Sugar Factory, and Hoima Sugar Factory.
However, the growing sugar industry has brought with it an increase in road crashes linked to the heavy trucks ferrying cane.
"We have a lot of cane truck drivers in Masindi, some transporting cane to Kinyara, others to Kyenjojo Sugar Factory. But they drive recklessly, knowing they are in raised vehicles. Worst of all, many of them don’t have side mirrors, and some even lack lights but still drive at night," Nandinda said.
He warned that authorities would begin impounding trucks in poor mechanical condition if factory owners failed to ensure compliance with road safety standards.
"We are going to impound all vehicles that are not roadworthy. It is unacceptable to have a 20% accident rate in the district," he added.
Some drivers, however, argue that the high costs associated with vehicle inspection and permit acquisition make compliance difficult.
"Some of us want to get permits, but the costs involved—including transport to Kampala and paying for inspection—are too high. If the services were brought to Masindi, it would help cut costs," said Fred Mugume, a driver in the district.
The chairman of the National Driving School, Abel Kanyankole, echoed this concern, calling on the government to extend driving permit registration services to sub-regions.
"It's difficult for someone without relatives in Kampala to travel there just to process a permit. The government should continue decentralizing this service. However, boda boda riders are still reluctant to obtain permits," Kanyankole said.
Nandinda also called on the police and driving schools to tighten oversight in the licensing process, warning that corruption has led to unqualified drivers obtaining permits.
"Many just bribe their way through the system without undergoing proper assessment. Police and driving schools must take the licensing process seriously to ensure only competent drivers are on the road," he said.
With the sugarcane industry expanding, local leaders are now pushing for stricter road safety measures to prevent further accidents linked to reckless truck driving in the district.