In 2016, 3,500 fatal accidents occurred on several roads across the country. Even after the introduction of operation Fika Salama by the Police to cab the carnage, new research indicated that the rate of accidents was still high and the danger of much more happening was real. “Road Safety in Uganda is really lagging and is costing the economy huge sums of money.” Said, Dr. Andrew Naimanye – Lead Researcher, Road Safety Report. Uganda lost over 1 billion dollars in road accidents.

Dr. Andrew Naimanye the Lead Researcher told NTV that the lack of coordination within and among the government agencies contributed to the continued carnage on the road. “Miss Coordination of all key stakeholders; Ministry of Health, Ministry of Works, the Police, the Judiciary and so on. For example, we raise about 4 million dollars per year in Road Safety penalties but this money is not put back into Road Safety.” Said, Dr. Andrew Naimanye – Lead Researcher, Road Safety Report. “You see we do segregated functions; Traffic Police is doing its own, UNRA there, Ministry of Works, National Road Safety Council, Transport License Board, NGOs, and KCCA. But if we had some framework to have everything on one table I think we would improve.”

Now, the United Nations Program recommended that a Commissioner be appointed to run the Road Safety Council. “Actually we were a bit radicle why can’t we have a Minister of State for Road Safety to put it high on the table, there are Ministries that have got a budget of less than 1 billion.” Said, Dr. Andrew Naimanye – Lead Researcher, Road Safety Report. “Let it be either Authority, Road Safety Council becomes an Authority so that money comes direct and people in-charge are accountable.” Said, John Mutenda – Chairman, Transport Licensing Board. Uganda was not a signatory to the UN Africa Road Safety Chatter and still missed out on about 4 million dollars for Road Safety activities.