The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
COMMENT | OBED K KATUREEBE | Lately, Uganda is experiencing gruesome road accidents that are claiming many Ugandans in what seems to be reckless behavior by the drivers and riders on the road. Whereas the government has made good progress in constructing paved roads across the country, Ugandan drivers think it is now time to “fly” on these roads instead of responsible driving.
Ironically, instead of celebrating the benefits that come with better-paved roads, we are now constantly crying for our injured and dead because of avoidable road accidents. Therefore, it is my considered opinion that the Uganda Police traffic department should declare an Operation Towa Ujinga (end stupidity) on our roads.
Aggressive driving behaviour takes many forms. Typical aggressive driving behaviour include speeding, driving too close to the car in front of you, not respecting traffic regulations, improper lane changing or weaving through traffic, etc. The list is long. Most Ugandans drive aggressively from time to time, and many drivers are not even aware when they are doing it. Almost all accidents on our newly built highways are a result of reckless driving. There is no other form of curbing this catastrophic behaviour other than coming down hard on those found guilty.
Aggressive driving is difficult to define because of its many different manifestations, but having a clear definition is important for police and legal action against it to succeed. A Global Web Conference on Aggressive Driving Issues, organized in Canada in October 2000, offered the following definition: ‘Driving behaviour is aggressive if it is deliberate, likely to increase the risk of collision and is motivated by impatience, annoyance, hostility and/or an attempt to save time.’
One needs to travel to Rwanda by road and realize how Ugandan drivers are not mad idiots after all. From Kampala to Katuna or Kagitumba, which are border points to Rwanda, our bus drivers are literally “flying”. Yet, the moment they crossover into Rwandan territory, they slow down and drive humanly, largely because they know that any senseless driving in the Rwandan territory can make them land penalties that are so punitive. Therefore, this clearly shows that we have relaxed a lot on stubborn road users, which in a way has bred impudence.
Indeed, we have seen that whenever we have increased vigilance, with traffic police officers apprehending some wayward drivers, sanity prevails. The problem is that when we relax along the way, reckless drivers and riders go back to their bad habits. Of course, traffic police officers do incredible work, especially managing traffic in the city centre, but taming highway drivers has been dismal.
Traffic police have talked tough, but Ugandans (and their indiscipline that seems to have shot over the roof) continue with their bad driving habits. They are still unashamedly driving or riding in the opposite lane, on walkways or pavements, and do not respect traffic lights, as if they are high on drugs etc. Unsignalized intersections in Uganda are uncontrolled and are characterized by a chaotic traffic situation that includes accident hotspots.
While officiating at the 32nd NRM/A Victory Day anniversary celebrations in Arua in January 2018, President Yoweri Museveni decried the stupid driving and riding behaviour of Ugandans that is not only putting the lives of Ugandans at risk but also scaring away investors in Uganda.
The Uganda Police Force Annual Crime and Traffic Report 2025 indicates that traffic crashes claim an average of 15 lives daily in the country. Despite a 24.4% drop in overall traffic offences, serious and fatal crashes rose by 3.7%, with 4,602 fatal incidents and 13,563 serious crashes registered.
I have read and heard illogical debates about the cause of most accidents in Uganda. Very absurd when you hear those arguing that our roads are slippery and narrow. True, we might not have six- or eight-lane highways (like those we see in Europe and other advanced countries), but the size we build is safe enough if we only exercised road discipline.
As a matter of urgency, traffic police must enforce the speed governors in all vehicles, especially those that ply the long routes. Secondly, the highway cameras that we intend to put in place to combat crime should include traffic offences, as it happens in the developed world. These cameras should be able to relay images of those driving dangerously to the control rooms for them to be immediately apprehended before they can cause accidents.
Any driver who drives a long journey, especially those driving buses, should not be seen on the same road the following day. Most of these drivers drive long hours minus resting, and in due course get fatigued and sleepy and hence become prone to mistakes while at the wheel.
As a country we need to design laws and policies designed to deter road crimes by focusing mainly on increasing the severity of the punishment. We cannot afford to remain with weak laws that are currently in place. Relevant organs in Parliament must expedite the process of formulating new tough traffic laws to be able to ease police work as they move in to tame this new calamity. By and large, traffic police must crack the whip on speed, especially on our highways.
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The writer works with Uganda Media Centre
