Ugandan Pursue Safer Roads with New Traffic Regulations

Summary:

• The Ministry of Works and Transport, along with partners, held a meeting to validate new traffic regulations, including a 30km/hr speed limit and electronic number plates. These measures aim to enhance road safety in Uganda, where thousands of lives are lost annually in accidents. The government is progressing in funding for vehicle inspection centers, crucial for enforcing safety standards.

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The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) partnered with the Centre for Policy Analysis (CEPA) and the Road Safety Advocacy Coalition Uganda (ROSACU) convened a validation meeting on proposed traffic regulations. The objective, as highlighted by MoWT’s Permanent Secretary, Bageya Waiswa, gathered input from road safety stakeholders regarding the implementation of new measures, including a 30km/hr speed limit and the introduction of electronic motor vehicle number plates.

Waiswa emphasized the critical need for a 30km/hr speed limit to mitigate the alarming rate of traffic accidents claiming the lives of thousands of Ugandans annually. In 2023 alone, 4,806 individuals lost their lives on Ugandan roads, equating to an average of 13 deaths per day. Advocates for road safety are advocating for the implementation of the 30km/hr limit in school zones, urban areas, and densely populated regions to enhance safety.

Furthermore, Waiswa provided insight into the government’s progress in securing funding for compensating Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS), the entity tasked with establishing vehicle inspection centers across the country. Despite encountering challenges, including contract termination due to governmental obstacles, progress has been made, with 30% of the required 209 billion shillings secured. Upon complete payment, the government will take ownership of these inspection centers, enabling the enforcement of mandatory vehicle inspections to prevent tragedies like the recent accident on Entebbe road that claimed the life of lawyer Okiot Raphael.

Raphael’s death, caused by a truck malfunction, underscores the urgency of ensuring vehicle safety. Winston Katushabe, MoWT’s Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety, highlighted that the new regulations will facilitate the implementation of electronic number plates, enhancing monitoring and enforcement efforts. Katushabe commended the collective efforts of road safety activists, construction engineers, transportation stakeholders, and government agencies in advancing these crucial traffic regulations.

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