The death of Rajiv Ruparelia, son of business magnate Sudhir Ruparelia, has sparked public outrage over the state of road construction works along the Kajjansi–Munyonyo route, particularly at the Busabala flyover junction in Kibiri.
The prominent businessman was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning after his vehicle crashed into construction barriers believed to have been placed without proper signage.
Residents of Kibiri and the surrounding areas expressed anger at the prolonged and erratic nature of the roadworks, saying they have become a death trap due to poor planning and lack of warning signs.
According to eyewitnesses and locals, the contractor has repeatedly opened and closed the road section without notifying the public, creating confusion and danger.
“There are no warning signs or lights at night,” said Yowana Maria Ssebina, a boda boda cyclist and resident of Kibiri.
“Some of us leave when the road is open and come back to find it blocked again without any notice. That’s how people end up crashing into these barriers.”
The spot has seen repeated accidents in recent months, but no significant changes have been made to improve safety, residents say.
The construction barriers, often left unmarked at night, have made it difficult for motorists to navigate the area, especially in low visibility.
At the scene of the accident, veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda condemned the authorities and contractors for what he described as gross negligence.
“How do you have roadblocks on a high-speed road without any reflectors or warning signs, especially at night?” he asked.
“It’s not just here—this is happening at multiple construction sites across Kampala.”
According to traffic police, the accident occurred at about 1:54 AM when Rajiv’s car hit the unmarked barriers.
The vehicle lost control, caught fire, and Rajiv died on the spot.
The police have not yet determined the full cause of the accident and say investigations are still underway.
The incident has ignited calls for accountability from both the contractors and relevant government agencies overseeing the Kajjansi–Munyonyo project.
Many Ugandans are now demanding that safety standards be enforced immediately to prevent further loss of life.