Curbing road carnage needs concerted effort
Jul 24, 2007
MPs have attacked the Government over the increasing number of deaths in road accidents and demanded that the ministries of works, internal affairs and health take action to stop the carnage.
MPs have attacked the Government over the increasing number of deaths in road accidents and demanded that the ministries of works, internal affairs and health take action to stop the carnage.
The Soroti MP Alice Alaso moved a motion asking Parliament to set up a select committee to investigate road accidents in the country.
This is commendable because the number of lives lost on Uganda’s roads is alarming. However, one may hasten to ask why the MPs have suddenly realised that too many people are dying on our roads when this has been happening for so many years.
The MPs’ reaction comes on the heels of the tragic death of former MP Edward Kamana Wesonga in a road accident. Indeed there was a similar reaction when the former Attorney General Francis Ayume died in a car crash two years ago.
That is when the law to wear seat belts and install speed governors in passenger vehicles was enacted. This is a reactionary response which seems to miss the point. All lives are precious, no matter who dies and, therefore, there is need to identify where the problem lies.
The MPs are the legislative arm of the Government and therefore, blaming the Executive alone for the problem is not fair. What has been their input at policy level? The rampant accidents are due to a tragic combination of factors. There is Police corruption, bad roads, reckless driving and vehicles which are not roadworthy.
Failure of any of these to do their part leads to tragic consequences.
While the Executive arm of the government may not have done much in terms of good roads, the MPs have also been short on sensitising the road users on reckless driving, while the the traffic Police rarely ever enforce the law.
So, rather than apportion blame, all the stakeholders who include all the ministries mentioned, the Police and MPs need to work hand in hand to make Uganda’s roads safer to travel on.
The Soroti MP Alice Alaso moved a motion asking Parliament to set up a select committee to investigate road accidents in the country.
This is commendable because the number of lives lost on Uganda’s roads is alarming. However, one may hasten to ask why the MPs have suddenly realised that too many people are dying on our roads when this has been happening for so many years.
The MPs’ reaction comes on the heels of the tragic death of former MP Edward Kamana Wesonga in a road accident. Indeed there was a similar reaction when the former Attorney General Francis Ayume died in a car crash two years ago.
That is when the law to wear seat belts and install speed governors in passenger vehicles was enacted. This is a reactionary response which seems to miss the point. All lives are precious, no matter who dies and, therefore, there is need to identify where the problem lies.
The MPs are the legislative arm of the Government and therefore, blaming the Executive alone for the problem is not fair. What has been their input at policy level? The rampant accidents are due to a tragic combination of factors. There is Police corruption, bad roads, reckless driving and vehicles which are not roadworthy.
Failure of any of these to do their part leads to tragic consequences.
While the Executive arm of the government may not have done much in terms of good roads, the MPs have also been short on sensitising the road users on reckless driving, while the the traffic Police rarely ever enforce the law.
So, rather than apportion blame, all the stakeholders who include all the ministries mentioned, the Police and MPs need to work hand in hand to make Uganda’s roads safer to travel on.