Kampala road crashes highest on Mondays, fatalities peak on Sundays
The report showed that Sunday recorded the highest number of deaths, at 71, followed by Wednesday with 69 and Saturday with 63.
Kampala road crashes highest on Mondays, fatalities peak on Sundays
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A Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) road safety report for 2025 has revealed that Monday recorded the highest number of crashes, at 1,017, followed closely by Friday with 1,008. Fatalities, however, followed a slightly different pattern.
The report showed that Sunday recorded the highest number of deaths, at 71, followed by Wednesday with 69 and Saturday with 63.
Stellah Namatovu, the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) Road injury surveillance coordinator for Kampala, who coordinated the data collection, said that while crashes are frequent on certain days, the severity of outcomes varies, highlighting the need for targeted interventions on weekends when fatality risks are greatest.
The report indicated that in 2025, monthly crash data fluctuated across the year, with the highest number of crashes recorded in January at 596 and the lowest in May at 496.
The number of reported serious injuries followed a similar mid-year dip, dropping to 226 in April before rising steadily to 277 in December.
Deaths varied more sharply, with the lowest number recorded in June at 22 and the highest in October at 40, indicating possible seasonal influences on crash severity.
The rise in deaths during October and December highlights periods of heightened risk, possibly linked to increased travel and festive activities. These findings emphasise the importance of targeted safety campaigns and enforcement during high-risk months to reduce both crash frequency and severity.
KCCA speaks
KCCA deputy executive director Benon Kigenyi said the findings reinforce the need to put people at the centre of Kampala's road development.
He said a liveable city must also be a safe city.
“A liveable city cannot be one where people are afraid of crossing the road or walking to work,” he said.
Kigenyi noted that there are ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian walkways and footpaths, road markings, traffic signs and road furniture, traffic signals, zebra crossings and other pedestrian facilities.
KCCA is also developing non-motorised transport infrastructure, including dedicated lanes and cycling facilities, while improving safety around schools.
He said road users need clear guidance on where to cross, where to stop and when to slow down.
“If a road is not speaking, it is dangerous,” Balimwezo said.
He called for greater sensitisation of the public to respect other road users, arguing that road safety cannot be left to KCCA and police alone.
Police speak
The spokesperson for the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety at the Uganda Police Force, Michael Kananura, said the challenge requires a coordinated response, with compliance with traffic rules critical to saving lives.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Everyone has a role in ensuring that someone else's journey does not end in tragedy.
We must work together because no single institution can prevent road deaths on its own,” Kananura said.