MARY PRIMA AWOR

The Traffic and Road Safety Directorate has indicated that there is a rampant rise in road accidents, showing that at least 77 people died, while 364 sustained injuries in a period of just one week.

Traffic Police spokesperson, Michael Kananura told journalists that the deaths and injuries of people were a result of about 447 crashes on various roads in the country.

This was during the weekly media address at police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala.

Following the noticeable increase in the number of deaths on roads, Traffic Police spokesperson, Michael Kananura recounted the records taken in the period between July, 3 and 9, 2023.

Kananura went on to explain that 441 were victims of road accidents including pedestrians, motorcyclists and passengers, among others, with motorcycles being a great contributor to the biggest number of those injured in accidents.

Of the 441 victims, 77 died, and 364 were injured.

He attributed the majority of the accidents that happened last week to reckless driving, speeding, overtaking in dangerous areas, drink-driving and speaking on the phone while driving among others.

The area in which one drives and the type of car being driven determine the speed limit attached to different drivers.

He went on to remind drivers of the speed limit prescribed to them respectively.

The traffic police spokesperson therefore warned drivers that they will be punished in line with the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill 2023 if they disobeyed the given speed limits.

This is not the first time this high number of death has been registered in Uganda, in 2022 a total of 77 people who were destined for different destinations died in road accidents and these were registered in a period of one week between 18th and 24th September 2022.

President Museveni last month assented to the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill 2023 to make it law enforceable in Uganda.

Government says that the new law is aimed at enforcing sanity on Ugandan roads; stating that driving past the prescribed speed limit will earn a motorist a shs2 million fine or a jail sentence of up to three years or both.