Northern Bypass Roundabouts, Junctions Deadly for Road Users – KCCA Report

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Summary:

• The 2022 KCCA traffic report highlights the Northern Bypass roundabouts as particularly dangerous, with Kalerwe roundabout experiencing a significant increase in fatalities, emphasizing the need for increased enforcement during evening hours, according to recommendations from Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative (BIGRS) and calls for collaborative efforts among police, KCCA, and the Ministry of Transport to address road safety gaps.

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The 2022 Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) traffic report has uncovered that the Northern Bypass roundabouts and junctions pose the greatest risk to road users in the city. Published statistics reveal that Kalerwe and Sentema roundabouts are particularly perilous locations, where pedestrians and motorcyclists face a higher likelihood of fatal accidents.

Notably, the Kalerwe roundabout, with accidents predominantly reported at Kyebando police post, witnessed a significant surge in fatalities. In 2022, at least 68 pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists lost their lives, marking a substantial increase from the 13 fatalities recorded in 2021. Comprehensive data collected from police posts, stations, Mulago, and Naguru China-Uganda Friendship hospitals indicate that a total of 425 individuals lost their lives in Kampala accidents in 2022, compared to 419 in the preceding year.

The report underscores that vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, constituted 94% of the deaths in 2022. Motorcyclists alone accounted for nearly half of the fatalities. The majority of reported fatalities were males (76%), with the highest proportion occurring among victims aged 20 to 29.

Both traffic police data and KCCA data align in revealing that the majority of accidents transpire between 6 and 8 pm. However, the most fatal incidents occur between 8 and 10 pm. Stellah Namatovu, the surveillance coordinator for Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative (BIGRS), emphasized the need for heightened enforcement during evening hours to mitigate these road deaths and injuries.

Lawrence Niwabiine, the acting director of traffic police, outlined the police’s commitment to automating policing efforts around the clock, relying on digital systems such as CCTVs for effective enforcement.

In response to the findings, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago commended BIGRS for sponsoring road safety initiatives in Kampala but urged for collaborative efforts between the police, KCCA, and the Ministry of Transport. Lukwago emphasized the importance of addressing gaps leading to deaths and injuries, proposing regular joint meetings among relevant sectors to ensure a more impactful and proactive approach to road safety, rather than releasing annual reports without subsequent action.

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