A total of 81 people died in road accidents in Uganda in the last week, police have said.
According to the report from the Traffic Police Directorate, the deaths were registered during the week of 7th – 13th July 2024, where 301 sustained injuries.
Traffic Police spokesman Michael Kananura said among the dead were 35 motorcyclists, 28 pedestrians, 13 passengers on motor cycles, 03 pedal cyclists, 01 Driver & 01 other.
“Crashes on motorcycles, both riders and passengers accounted for 59% of the total death followed by pedestrians who contributed to 35%. The major causes of these road crashes were:- Crashes due to careless overtaking contributed to 31% of the total crashes, followed by speeding with 19% of the total crashes,” he said.
Kananura said notable crashes include the one on Iganga-Bugiri Highway in Iganga District when one person died and one other injured.
The crash involved motor vehicles UBG 347D Tata Lorry & NO ZG 2941 (Rear number plate). A fuel tanker, traveling from Iganga to Bugiri, lost control and veered into the oncoming lane, colliding with TATA Lorry carrying cement from Tororo.
The impact sparked a fire that engulfed both vehicles, resulting in the death of one person, whose identity has not been confirmed, who was burned beyond recognition. The driver of the TATA Lorry sustained critical injuries and was rushed to Iganga Hospital. Investigations are underway
The other occurred on 13/07/2024 at Katende along Masaka-Kampala Road in Mpigi district at around 4:00pm. The crash involved motor vehicle UAY 400Y Ambulance belonging to Specialist Doctor International, motorcycles UEW 020M Baja boxer & UDZ 939B Bajaj Boxer. The crash occurred when the said ambulance carrying a body from Jinja to Kyotera while at Katende attempted to overtake a queue of vehicles and collided head-on with two motorcycles traveling in the opposite direction towards Kampala. The collision resulted in the instant death of 01 motorcycle riders and injured 02 others a rider and a passenger. The cause of the crash was attributed to the ambulance driver’s careless overtaking a manoeuvre.
Kananura said in the operations conducted last week related to driving licenses; 331 defaulters were arrested; out of these 75 were driving without driving licenses, 107 were driving out of class and 149 were driving with expired licenses.
Operations related to boda-bodas; 787 riders were got on cases of riding without crash helmets and reflective jackets. These operations are to continue.
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