Speeding remains top cause of fatal road crashes, says police

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Speeding remains the leading cause of fatal road crashes in Uganda, according to the Traffic Police, who report that reckless driving and unsafe overtaking continue to claim lives despite legislative and enforcement efforts.

Speaking on Monday, Traffic Police spokesperson, Michael Kananura, said speed directly determines the impact of a crash, warning that even small increases in vehicle speed significantly raise the likelihood of death or serious injury.

“The speed at which a vehicle travels directly influences the risk of a crash as well as the severity of injuries and the likelihood of death,” Kananura said.

“A 1% increase in average speed results in a 4% increase in crash risk and a 3% increase in the severity of crashes. Conversely, reducing average speed by just 5% can cut fatalities by up to 30%.”

According to police data, motorcyclists, passengers, and pedestrians—who often have no control over the vehicles involved—account for 75% of all road crash casualties, making them the most vulnerable road users.

Kananura noted that in the past week alone, speeding and unsafe overtaking contributed to 56% of all road crashes recorded across the country.

Among the most serious incidents was a crash in Kibuku District along the Tirinyi–Mbale highway on 1 May 2025, in which five people died and five others were injured. According to eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations, a Toyota Hiace taxi speeding from Iganga rammed into a stationary Fuso Fighter truck that had been parked on a pedestrian walkway. All the deceased and injured were passengers in the taxi.

Another high-profile crash occurred in Kampala on May 3, 2025, claiming the life of Rajiv Ruparelia, Managing Director of the Ruparelia Group of Companies. He reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained in the early hours of Saturday morning following a separate road incident.

👉Rajiv Ruparelia: A legacy of passion, leadership

The Police Annual Crime Report 2024 shows that careless overtaking was responsible for 5,607 crashes, while speeding caused 5,505 crashes. Together, these accounted for 44.5% of all road accidents reported last year.

“Unsafe overtaking usually involves violating speed limits, especially in built-up areas. The combination of overtaking and speeding is deadly,” Kananura explained.

He added that in 2024, 60% of all crash fatalities involved people not in control of the vehicles—specifically, 1,666 pedestrians, 1,307 passengers, and 138 pedal cyclists—totalling 3,111 deaths.

To tackle these alarming statistics, Parliament passed the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Act, 2023, which imposes a fine of up to sh2m or imprisonment not exceeding three years for anyone found guilty of exceeding prescribed speed limits.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has since updated the Traffic and Road Safety (Speed Limits) Regulations, originally issued in 2004. The revised 2024 regulations reduce the maximum speed limit on all roads to 90km/h, with the aim of promoting a culture of safe driving and better protecting vulnerable road users.

“These new measures are not just about punishment—they’re about changing driver behaviour and saving lives,” Kananura said.