ITMS road safety campaign: 'Protecting children is a shared responsibility'

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🚦 ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN 

Stakeholders have emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in reducing road crashes, particularly among vulnerable road users such as children. 

“Children are among the most vulnerable on our roads, yet many of the crashes involving them are preventable," said Traffic Police spokesperson Michael Kananura.

"Recent incidents clearly point to speeding as a major cause. We urge all road users to slow down, especially near schools. Protecting children is a shared responsibility.”

Kananura (pictured below) made the remarks on Thursday during a road safety sensitization campaign activation at Kibuye Primary School in Uganda's capital Kampala.

The campaign is dubbed “Safe Kids, Safe Future”.

It is spearheaded by the Intelligent Transport Monitoring System (ITMS) in partnership with Police's Traffic Directorate and the works and transport ministry.

It has already been activated in the cities of Mbale, Fort Portal and Mbarara, and Kampala — reaching thousands of pupils with critical, life-saving road safety knowledge.

The Kibuye activation was graced by government agencies like the Uganda Police, works and transport ministry and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

All the stakeholders agreed to one thing: the safety of children on roads is a priority.

“This initiative is timely and necessary," said KCCA spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine.

"Our children face daily risks on the roads, and equipping them with knowledge is one of the strongest protections we can offer.

The campaign has focused on key road safety areas, including pedestrian discipline, proper use of zebra crossings, interpretation of traffic signs, and the dangers of reckless driving and speeding. 

In Kibuye, interactive sessions led by ITMS officials and traffic police officers engaged pupils through demonstrations, discussions, and practical examples.

The high-impact activation also saw the distribution of road safety materials such as reflective gear and educational materials to reinforce learning outcomes and encourage continued practice of safe behaviours.

Speaking at the event, representatives from ITMS reiterated their commitment to scaling road safety awareness across Uganda. 

“Road safety begins with awareness," said Steven Turyarugayo, PR Consultant ITMS, noted.

"When children understand how to use the road safely, they not only protect themselves but also influence their communities,” Steven Turyarugayo, the public relations consultant at ITMS.

Over the past three months, the “Safe Kids, Safe Future” 2026 edition has empowered over 4,000 school-going children in the 12 schools visited across the country.

Since February, it has recorded significant impact, with participating schools reporting improved awareness and behavioural change among pupils. 

The initiative builds on earlier pilot programmes conducted within the Kampala Metropolitan Area and aims to create a sustained culture of road safety nationwide.

Uganda is records an estimated two schoolchildren deaths daily in road crashes. 

The figures drawn from the 2025 Police traffic report show a worrying pattern of school-going children being knocked by vehicles during peak morning and evening hours as they travel to and from school.

With that in mind, the campaign message is clear: road safety is a shared responsibility, and every child deserves a safe journey to and from school.