Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), in collaboration with the Uganda Professional Drivers Network (UPDN), has launched a citywide road safety campaign under the theme, “There Are Speed Limits for a Reason.”
The initiative was unveiled by Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago during the 4th Annual Professional Drivers Conference and Road Transport Stakeholders Excellence Awards.
The campaign comes as Kampala gears up for the festive season, a period historically associated with increased travel and a spike in speed-related accidents.
According to the Annual Crime Report 2024, December recorded the highest number of road crashes nationwide, with 2,445 incidents, making it the most dangerous month on Uganda’s roads.
Addressing participants, the Lord Mayor warned that the holiday period brings heightened risks on the roads.
"As we move into the holiday season, travel intensifies and the risk on our roads increases. This campaign is a timely reminder that speed limits exist to protect lives. I call upon every driver to slow down and help us reduce preventable injuries and deaths," he said.
KCCA is working closely with the Uganda Police Force to ensure that the campaign’s public messaging is reinforced by strong enforcement measures. The strategy aims to deter dangerous driving through both awareness and visible action on the roads.
UPDN Executive Director, Ndugu Omongo, highlighted the critical role of professional drivers in safeguarding lives during high-travel periods.
He stressed that responsible driving protects drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users. Omongo welcomed the campaign as a reinforcement of the discipline and vigilance required to maintain road safety.
The campaign will run throughout December and will include television and radio advertisements, targeted digital outreach, PSV-focused messaging, and community sensitization activities coordinated through UPDN networks, all supported by law enforcement efforts.
Concluding his remarks, the Lord Mayor emphasized the need for collective action to reduce road trauma.
"Road safety requires the effort of every stakeholder. I thank UPDN and our wider network of international partners for their continued support in making Kampala’s roads safer. Together, we can protect lives during this festive season and beyond," he said.