In an effort to combat road crushes during this year’s festive season, the commissioner Ministry of Transport and Works in charge of licensing drivers Winston Katushabe has warned motorists especially those driving passenger service vehicles to avoid taking alcohol and drugs as well as over speeding because these are one of the main causes of road crushes.
Mr. Katushabe also cautioned people who are buying vehicles during this festive season not to dare drive their vehicles without holding a driving permit because they risk other road user’s lives and measures have been put in place to apprehend them.
While addressing reporters at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on December 13, 2023,, Katushabe said that police have been put at strict task to arrest those who are drink-driving such that they can be kept safe throughout this festive season.
“ We have arranged with Police and courts of law to ensure that however offends the law, will stay in jail until the new year when he/ she will be prosecuted because we want at least to minimize the road crushes to avoid death and injuries.’’ Katushabe said.
He also advised motorists to avoid travelling at night because of the constant rain that normally make the roads more slippery because this will help reduce on the expected road crushes.
The 2022 road safety report revealed that road crushes claimed 425 lives of people only in Kampala, of these 94% were vulnerable road users, cyclists and pedestrians. Mr. Katushabe says due to this back ground, government this time round is targeting at least saying 100 people from accidents in this festive season.
The commissioner also said that government losses clause to UGX 4.4 trillion annually as cost of catering for the victims and accident relates issues and this represents 5% of Uganda’s gross domestic product. He also said that government has strategized to reduce road crashes by 50% by the year 20230.
The In-Country Coordinator of Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) Jackie Akao , an organization that facilitated local civil societies and CBOs to advocate for road safety said that the laws and policies in the country are very good but their implementation is still wanting and that there’s a need to put in more efforts in the implementation if the country would achieve its target.
“ There’s a need for increased sensitisation to enhance awareness of the road safety space so as to cause social changes through giving and disseminating the relevant information to the public especially the motorists.’’ Akao said.
The spokeperson of traffic police department Kananura Michael who also addressed a joint press conference said that road crashes mainly caused by behaviour factors such as speeding which directly influences the risk of the crashes causing death and severity of injuries.
Other behaviour risk factors are drink-driving which impairs both the driver’s visual and decision making aspects, the destructed driving for instance sending text messages, talking on mobile phone and eating while driving.
Mr. Kananura said that some interventions have been made in order to reduce on these factors like putting up CCTV cameras which catch the offenders.
By George Bukenya