Kampala Capital City managers report reduced road fatalities

KAMPALA - The Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has released its fourth Annual Road Safety Report, revealing a 2% reduction in road traffic deaths in 2024 compared to the previous year.

In addition, the Authority has launched a new mass media campaign aimed at curbing speeding in school zones and other high-risk areas.

According to the Kampala Annual Road Safety Report 2024, reported fatalities fell from 411 in 2023 to 404 in 2024, reducing the death rate from 10.6 to 9.9 per 100,000 population. 

The number of serious injuries during the crashes, however, increased by 12%.
 
The report released on Thursday, August 14th, developed from police crash records also listed the most vulnerable road users as: pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists.

These accounted for 94% of all fatalities, with young men aged 20 to 29 years being the most affected demographic.

According to the report, which highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in the city’s road safety efforts, the high-risk crash corridors include sections along the Northern Bypass, Jinja Road, and Entebbe Road.

While releasing the report, KCCA management also launched a media campaign to amplify messages on speed limit in the city.

Under the theme "Slow Down. It’s 30 for a Reason!" The campaign urges drivers to adhere to the 30 km/hr speed limit in urban and high-risk areas such as schools, hospitals, and markets. 

The campaign, backed by coordinated police enforcement,  will feature public information depicting the real consequences of speeding in a school zone. 

Apart from community engagement, KCCA will have different messages on television, radio, social media, and outdoor platforms within the city. 

"Every child deserves a safe journey to and from school. Through this campaign and our Speed Management Plan, we aim to make Kampala’s streets safer for everyone, especially our children," said Hajat Sharifah Buzeki, Executive Director of KCCA, during the launch.

Omongo Ndugu, Executive Director of Uganda Professional Drivers Network (UPDN), implored motorists to always observe the speed limits in places stipulated in the law. 
"Slowing down near schools and pedestrian crossings is central to protecting children and other unprotected road users," he said.

He noted that the new regulations, gazetted in February 2024, reduced speed limits in built-up areas from 50 km/h to 30 km/h in locations with high interaction between vehicles and vulnerable road users, particularly around schools.