Rwizi Region tops in Fatal Accidents-Police
Amos Tayebwa: The Traffic police have warned the road users, especially the tax drivers to be extra careful as numbers of fatal accidents continue rising in the country, Rwizi region is leading the list among the regions in Uganda with 353 road crashes and 425 fatal accidents according to the statistics and report about road safety for the year 2024-2025.
The Rwizi topping the list, it is followed by Albertine with 208 crashes and 378 fatal accidents. In third position was Kempi North that registered 345 crashes and 376 fatal accidents.
While presiding over a Stakeholders meeting on Friday 4.04.2025 at Kamukuzi Mbarara Mbarara District Headquarters, ACP Norman Musinga the Acting Deputy Director Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety revealed most road accidents in Uganda attributed to reckless drivers, bribes on the roads, unprofessional drivers and lack of sensitization. He said that police register a number of fatal accidents and the trend increases every day.
Musinga said that the prevention of road accidents does not lie in the hands of the traffic police alone, instead it’s everyone’s responsibility, citing massing sensitization among the communities to reduce the chances of road accidents.
“When you want to fight road safety you target big gatherings like burials, parties, churches and other places where people congregate. Religious leaders, political leaders, you must do your role and preach the gospel of road safety. Let’s all be responsible for this initiative and stop blaming us the police of the cause of road accidents” said Musinga
“Taxi drivers, especially the small cars, have immensely contributed to the increase of road accidents in this country, mostly in the Rwizi Region. Excess, over speeding, drunkenness and unqualified drivers are the root cause of these accidents. I must warn you that this time things must change, I am going to arrest you myself, this is my area where I was born from, so I must deal with you the tax drivers, Boda boda riders and reckless drivers to ensure road accidents are controlled to the grassroot. Make sure each driver has the Driving Permit, without it the law must prevail” he adds
Superintendent of Police, Micheal Kananura, and the Spokesperson of Traffic Police said that the Traffic Police Bosses have been in Rwizi Region for two days targeting several partners or stakeholders on board to ensure that these are taught on how best to behave on the roads and what everyone’s real role or responsibility in as far as road safety is concerned.
“We have seen many people perishing from the Rwizi region in the last year due to road crushes. The Region lost 425 people putting Rwizi at the topmost in the entire country, so this calls for everyone to come here, camp here and tell everyone about their roles towards advocating for road safety in this region. It is not only Traffic to ensure that our roads are safe but rather everyone’s responsibility” said SP Kananura
Kananura has also revealed that the most affected people are vulnerable teams which include Pedestrians, passengers and motorcyclists.
“When every time we keep quiet and leave these motorcyclists, taxi drivers carry excess, then we are in trouble. You don’t have to wait for Traffic to get these people but rather you the passengers to resist and report. On the issue of bribes between the drivers and Traffic officers, as the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety we have a fully-fledged unit of Alert Squad, their role is to get these traffic officers that get money but all they need is to get information , so please give us information. I want to tell you that you who are giving in that money, you are as bad as that person who is also receiving it and we are aware that that is also bribery. Kindly always report these matters because this concerns your life as a passenger not the Traffic Officer, once such matters reported to us, action must be taken towards the culprit” said Kananura
The issue of bribery allegations between the tax divers and Traffic Officers is mostly practiced on Ntungamo road Traffic checking points. Tax Drivers are normally seen engaging in handshakes with Officers especially when the vehicle is excess alongside other issues related to road traffic irregularities.
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