Accidents blamed on road reserve encroachment

By David Oduut

POLICE in the Elgon region is irked by the rise in road accidents attributing it to abuse of road reserves.

At least 67 accidents and 17 deaths were reported last month. Most accidents took place along Mbale-Tororo highway where vehicles either knocked bodaboda cyclists in the narrow road or crashed into buildings.

Diana Nandaula, the Elgon region police spokesperson said the accidents occured as vehicles lost control and rammed into buildings constructed close to the road.

“Well it is not bad to build along highways as it has business attachments but these roads have terribly become narrow due to abuse of the road reserve,” Nandaula said.

She said the vice has dangerously increased accident rates along highways in the region as speeding vehicles commonly lose control and rake down closely built buildings causing fatalities.

The most affecting trading centers she said include; Munkaga, Bugema, Nauyo, Busiu along Mbale-Tororo Road then Nkoma and Nakaloke trading centers along Mbale Kumi.

However, Hussein Kyazze the head of Field Operations at UNRA said the authority has issued a last warning to have houses and businesses operating from road reserves vacate.

Uganda National Road Authority mandates a house to be constructed 18 meters away from the center (middle) of the road.

He said the move to demolish all structures on road reserves will ensure increased safety of all road users. He urged those affected to quickly move or face loses as the demolition works will kick off any time.

Kyazze listed most trading centers along the highway in the districts of Mbale, Butaleja, Budaka, Tororo, Bukedea, Iganga, Bugiri among others in the East that will be affected.

Jacob Opolot the Elgon regional police commander said police will support UNRA in the exercise. He asked the public to cooperate as the exercise is to help curb accidents.