Pedestrian deaths soar as experts demand safer roads

KAMPALA - Uganda lost 1,666 pedestrians in 2024 to road crashes—avoidable tragedies that have triggered urgent calls for a comprehensive safety overhaul, according to a new study by Makerere University’s School of Public Health.

Released on May 29, 2025, the study, conducted under the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), paints a stark picture of Uganda’s traffic system.

Researchers argue that poor road design, weak enforcement, and inadequate emergency care are fuelling a crisis that kills more people daily than many major diseases.

“These are not accidents; they are predictable and preventable crashes,” said Dr Esther Bayiga from the Trauma, Injuries and Disability (TRIAD) Unit at Makerere. The unit recorded over 4,000 traffic-related deaths in 2024, with pedestrians and boda-boda riders accounting for the majority.

Dr Frederick Oporia, who leads the TRIAD Unit, described Uganda’s roads as “the most dangerous public space”, noting that the country averages 14 road deaths each day. “The majority of those who die are the most vulnerable—those walking or riding to work, school, or the market.”

Dr Frederick Oporia

The researchers attribute much of the crisis to vehicle-centred infrastructure that neglects pedestrian safety. Over 60% of vehicles in Kampala, the study notes, were found to be speeding. “Every 1 km/h increase in speed raises the risk of death by 5%,” said Dr Oporia. “We must slow down.”

Helmet use among motorcyclists remains a major concern. While app-based riders such as SafeBoda showed higher compliance, fewer than 10% of passengers wore helmets.

Annually, Uganda records about 13,000 serious injuries from road crashes, with the government footing up to 90% of treatment costs—a burden experts warn is unsustainable.

“Our transport system is chaotic,” said Dr Jimmy Osuret. “It’s time we moved away from unregulated taxis and boda-bodas to mass public transport systems like buses and rail. We are losing lives because people have no safer options.”

Dr Osuret also called for stricter vehicle importation standards, mandatory speed governors, and stronger regulation of the public transport sector. “Some of the vehicles on our roads are essentially death traps,” he warned.

Despite the introduction of the Express Penalty Scheme by the Uganda Police, enforcement remains weak. “Road users will always make mistakes,” said Dr Bayiga, “but a safe system should not punish human error with death.”

Emergency care is another fragile link in Uganda’s road safety chain. Most crash victims die due to delayed or inadequate care, as many are transported by untrained bystanders or boda-bodas. “We must invest in a functional emergency response system,” Dr Osuret urged.

Dr Jimmy Osuret and Dr Esther Bayiga from the Trauma, Injuries and Disability (TRIAD) Unit at Makerere University School of Public School. (All Photos by John Musenze)

The researchers stressed that solutions do exist, but they require political will and financial commitment. “During COVID-19, we saw what urgency looks like,” said Dr Osuret. “We need the same for road safety.”

Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, acting vice-chancellor of Makerere University, lauded the study, saying it offers “evidence-based recommendations for enforcement, planning, and public health messaging to make our roads safer.”

State Minister for Health, Hon Hanifa Kawooya, echoed these concerns while launching Uganda’s 2024 emergency report. She praised partners such as the Red Cross and Seed Global Health for improving emergency care and highlighted recent government efforts, including upgrading ambulances to WHO-recommended standards.

Kawooya also emphasised the need to train first responders—especially boda-boda riders and police officers who are often first at crash scenes. “They need the basics to save lives,” she said.

Despite some progress, the road to safety remains long. Experts agree that without a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach to enforcement, public awareness, and infrastructure investment, Uganda will struggle to meet its Sustainable Development Goal of halving road deaths by 2030.

“Every life matters,” Dr Bayiga emphasised. “Whether someone is walking, riding, or driving, they deserve to be safe.”