President Museveni has directed the Ministry of Transport and Works to step up public education on road safety, citing a disturbing rise in road accidents—especially those involving schoolchildren—despite the government’s investment in road infrastructure.
In a message delivered by Vice President Major (Rtd) Jessica Alupo at the Uganda Road Safety Conference (URoSAC) in Munyonyo, Museveni dismissed the tendency to blame poor roads, instead pointing to user behaviour as the root cause of most accidents.
“Government has done its best to build roads, but people are misusing them,” the President said.
“We need to stop blaming infrastructure and start educating our people.”
Recent data from the 2023/2024 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report indicates that an average of 14 people die daily in road crashes, including three schoolchildren on their way to or from school.
Vice President Alupo described the statistics as "heartbreaking" and attributed the spike in deaths to inadequate awareness and driver indiscipline.
“It is sad to note that with increased accessibility, accidents have risen,” Alupo said.
“The government spends over Shs82.6 billion annually on road injuries, especially those caused by boda bodas.”
During the conference, Alupo launched the Non-Motorised Transport Road Design Manuals, intended to ensure roads are designed with the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in mind.
The move signals a policy shift towards inclusive infrastructure, where not just vehicles but also vulnerable road users are considered in planning.
The conference also spotlighted global statistics presented by road safety experts, who noted that boda-related accidents contribute to over 1.2 million deaths annually, while 3,757 Ugandans were killed in motor vehicle crashes in the past year alone.
Transport and Works Minister Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala backed the President’s message, urging Ugandans to take personal responsibility and comply with traffic laws.
“Drivers need to stop blaming potholes and start following road regulations,” he said.
Katumba also announced a raft of new measures, including a digital vehicle registration system that will see all vehicles fitted with new number plates designed to improve accountability, curb vehicle-related crime, and enhance road safety.
“A special focus has been directed towards making school and hospital zones safer,” Katumba added.
“A guide for safe school zones is ready and will be launched during this conference.”
With rising traffic volumes and fatalities, Uganda’s leadership is now turning its attention to changing attitudes and behaviours on the road—especially among boda riders and drivers—while investing in smarter, safer infrastructure.
The Transport Ministry has been tasked with ensuring that every corner of the country benefits from the intensified road safety campaign.