Busia residents call for flyovers at schools along busy border highway

Busia, Uganda | URN | A section of residents in Busia District has appealed to the government to construct flyovers at three schools located along the 104-kilometre Busia-Lumino-Majanji highway to reduce road accidents involving learners and motorists.

The affected schools are Sifuyo Primary School and Busyabala Primary School, whose playgrounds are located across the highway, and Dabani Girls Nursery and Primary School, whose dormitories are situated on the opposite side of the road.

Charles Okumu, the Busia District Senior Education Officer, said residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of learners crossing the highway. He said several cases of children being involved in road accidents had been reported this year as they attempted to cross between different sections of the school premises.

Okumu said the district had started seeking support from stakeholders and development partners in neighbouring districts to address the problem.

Mary Martha Naigaga, the head teacher of Dabani Girls Nursery and Primary School, said several pupils had been involved in road accidents since the completion of the 104-kilometre Musita-Mayuge-Lumino-Majanji-Busia road.

She said most of the incidents occurred during the morning and evening hours when learners crossed the highway to report to school or return to their dormitories.

Naigaga said the school had registered three cases this year in which learners sustained leg fractures after being knocked down by speeding motorcycles.

Alex Ogalo, a former head teacher of Busyabala Primary School, said the school was particularly vulnerable because four major roads connect to different directions, exposing learners to traffic as they move between the school premises. He appealed to the government to intervene and provide a safer way for children to cross the roads.

Regina Erumbi, a resident, said her granddaughter was involved in an accident while attempting to cross the highway to attend an early-morning lesson. She said many children had been affected since the road was constructed and urged the government to prioritise a flyover at Dabani Girls Nursery and Primary School, which has a large student population.

Caroline Ajambo, another resident, said the Busia-Lumino-Majanji road had become increasingly busy, making it difficult for learners to cross safely. She noted that the zebra crossing at Dabani had faded, further increasing the risk of accidents, but hopes that a flyover would provide a safer crossing point for learners while allowing motorists to continue using the road without obstructing their movement.

Daniel Barasa, the chairperson of the Parents-Teachers Association at Dabani Girls Nursery and Primary School, said the school management had engaged various stakeholders in an effort to find a lasting solution, but their efforts had not yielded the desired results. He said they were now appealing to the government to intervene and protect learners.

John Charles Namayindi, the Busia District Chairperson, said the district had received several complaints from the three schools over the increasing number of children being knocked down by motorists. He said local leaders were engaging development partners to seek support in addressing the safety concerns and preventing further accidents.