Study links taxi drivers’ mental health crisis to road safety risks

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A new study has found that a majority of taxi drivers in Kampala are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety and depression, raising fresh concerns about road safety in Uganda’s busy urban transport system.

The findings by Dr Linda Jovia Kyomuhendo at the Makerere University School of Public Health raise concerns not only about drivers’ well-being but also about the safety of passengers who rely on them daily.

The cross-sectional study, involving 422 drivers from major taxi hubs including Old Taxi Park, Kisenyi, Nakawa and Nateete, found that 65.6% of drivers showed symptoms of depression, more than 70% had anxiety, and about 82% reported high stress. The research used the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), a widely recognised mental health screening tool.

These findings come at a time when road crashes in Uganda are rising. According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, the country recorded 25,107 road crashes in 2024, a 6.4% increase from the previous year, resulting in 25,808 casualties. Fatal crashes also rose, with 4,434 recorded cases.

More than 5,100 people died in road accidents in 2024, equivalent to about 14 deaths every day, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Experts said the mental state of drivers could be an overlooked contributor to these numbers.

Pressure of the job

Kyomuhendo’s study linked high levels of psychological distress to the demanding conditions of taxi work. Drivers often work long hours, face intense competition for passengers and operate under constant financial pressure, especially those required to remit daily fees to vehicle owners.

Sleep deprivation emerged as one of the strongest predictors of stress and anxiety. Drivers who slept fewer than seven hours a night were significantly more likely to experience mental health problems. Many start work before dawn and continue late into the night in order to meet daily targets.

The study also found that drivers who had been involved in road accidents within the past year were more likely to experience depression, suggesting a cycle in which stress and trauma both contribute to and result from unsafe driving conditions.

Impact on road safety

Mental health experts warned that such distress can impair concentration, slow reaction times and affect decision-making, all of which are critical for safe driving. In a high-pressure environment like Kampala’s roads, even minor lapses can have serious consequences.

According to the study, taxi drivers operate in traffic conditions characterised by constant competition for space, unpredictable pedestrian movement and aggressive driving. Under stress, drivers may be more prone to behaviours such as speeding, abrupt lane changes and risky overtaking, factors frequently cited in crash reports.

Police data shows that careless overtaking and speeding account for a significant share of accidents in Uganda, reinforcing concerns about driver behaviour.

A wider public risk

The implications extend beyond drivers themselves. Uganda’s public transport system depends heavily on taxis, which transport millions of people every day. If a large proportion of drivers are operating under psychological strain, the risks are borne by passengers, pedestrians and other road users.

The study also highlighted stigma as a barrier to addressing the problem. Discussions about mental health are rare among drivers, many of whom are men working in an informal sector where seeking help is often discouraged.

Kyomuhendo argued that the issue should be treated as both a public health and road safety priority. She called for interventions to improve working conditions, reduce excessive working hours and address the financial pressures that drive stress.

There are also calls for policymakers to integrate mental health support into occupational safety programmes, particularly in high-risk sectors like transport. Without such interventions, experts warn that efforts to reduce road accidents may fall short.

Uganda already loses over 5,000 lives annually to road crashes, a toll that continues to rise despite ongoing enforcement and awareness campaigns.