We are not removing humps - UNRA

Have you ever imagined driving from Kampala to Gulu without a single hump on the highway? Well, government Chief-Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa raised eyebrows when she stood on the floor of parliament and said government going to remove humps from all highways across the country.

"Already, neigbouring countries are complaining (about humps)…adding humps on highways not a solution," she said.

Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi backed Nankabirwa.

"We must remove humps, because they are causing accidents to people who are doing business and others," he said.

However, not all MPs agreed with the two, saying the removal of humps would worsen Uganda's abysmal road safety records.

In an interesting turn of events, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) has said humps are not going anywhere anytime soon.

"We are not removing humps completely. We are removing the old poorly designed humps and replacing them with the new (low level) design humps. The old ones were high and big; always damaging small cars. Even some trailers would face a challenge." Eng. Samuel Muhoozi, Director Roads and Bridges Development at the roads agency told the New Vision.

World Health Organisation data indicate that by May 2014, road traffic accidents deaths in Uganda had reached 10,133.