Rising road crashes spark urgent safety push as government reviews penalty system
According to the latest annual crime report released by the Uganda Police Force, road crashes increased by 3.7 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, underscoring growing safety concerns on the country’s roads.
By George Niyonzima
Uganda is grappling with a worrying rise in road traffic crashes, prompting fresh warnings from the Ministry of Works and Transport and renewed efforts to tighten enforcement through reforms to the Express Penalty System (EPS).
According to the latest annual crime report released by the Uganda Police Force, road crashes increased by 3.7 percent in 2025 compared to 2024, underscoring growing safety concerns on the country’s roads.
The report paints a troubling picture across all categories. Serious crashes rose by 3.3 percent, from 13,134 cases in 2024 to 13,563 in 2025. Fatal crashes also climbed by 3.8 percent, increasing from 4,434 to 4,602, while minor crashes registered the sharpest rise at 4.5 percent, moving from 7,539 to 7,879.
Speaking in response to the report, Susan Kataike, spokesperson for the Ministry of Works and Transport, said the figures reflect a need for collective responsibility among all road users.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility—pedestrians, passengers, and drivers alike,” Kataike emphasized, calling for greater vigilance and discipline to curb the growing trend.
Kataike made the remarks during a stakeholder engagement in Hoima, where government officials and regional leaders gathered to validate proposed reforms to the Express Penalty System. The meeting, attended by stakeholders from across the Bunyoro sub-region, forms part of a nationwide consultation process aimed at strengthening traffic law enforcement.
The Express Penalty System, which penalizes traffic offenders through fines, is now under review, with authorities seeking public input on how to make it more effective in reducing road accidents.
“We are collecting views from different stakeholders so they can be incorporated into the validated system,” Kataike explained. “These recommendations will be submitted to the Minister of Works, who will later present them before Cabinet.”
Local traffic authorities in Bunyoro point to additional challenges contributing to the surge in accidents. Osborn Tumwiine, the District Traffic Officer for Buliisa District, revealed that the theft of road signs in the region has significantly undermined road safety efforts.
“Most of the road signs have been stolen, making it difficult for motorists to navigate safely,” Tumwiine noted, highlighting a growing but often overlooked risk factor.
Meanwhile, Robert Kisakye, a senior licensing officer at the Ministry, expressed optimism that a revised Express Penalty System will instill discipline among motorists, particularly those prone to reckless driving.
“The validation process will help us refine some of the conditions we had earlier proposed,” Kisakye said. “The goal is to ensure the system effectively promotes responsible driving behavior.”
The ongoing consultations signal government’s recognition that enforcement alone may not be enough, and that inclusive policy design, drawing from the experiences of road users and local authorities, could be key to reversing the trend.
As Uganda continues to urbanize and vehicle numbers grow, the rising crash statistics serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for coordinated action. For policymakers, enforcement agencies, and citizens alike, the message is clear: safer roads will require not just stricter rules, but a shared commitment to responsibility.
