By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Motorcycle dealers have been directed to issue ISO double standard number for each motorcycle they sale.
“Every motorcycle which is being sold or registered, for it token have a plate, it must have two must have two ISO standard helmets,” Works and transport minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala said. He noted that this standard was adopted during the Marrakesh conference in Morocco last week.
On the other hand, Gen. Katumba urged parliament to increase on budget allocation for road safety. He also revealed that plans are underway for mandatory motor vehicle inspection, SGS inspection and training effective July 1.
Boda boda accidents remains a major cause of road traffic injuries and deaths in Uganda. Minister Katumba Wamala warned that there will be no more sale of motorcycles without two elements for a rider and the passenger. He noted that no motorcycle will be licensed or issued to a number plate without meeting these requirements.
The recently released Police Annual Crime Report, the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety reported 6.4% increase in road crashes in 2024.
Traffic police director Nuwabiine Lawrence categorized the crashes into fatal crashes, with 4,434 cases resulting in deaths, serious crashes, with 13,134 cases causing major injuries, and minor crashes, with 7,539 cases causing minor or no injuries.
Additionally, the report shows that number of people affected by road crashes also increased by 4.4%, with 25,808 victims in 2024, up from 24,728 in 2023. Fatalities rose by 7%, while serious injuries increased by 1.7%.
The most common causes of accidents in 2024 included careless overtaking, which accounted for 5,657 cases or 44.5% of crashes, speeding, with 5,505 cases, hit-and-run incidents, careless pedestrians, with 946 cases, mobile phone use while driving, drunk driving, fatigue, and disregard for traffic lights. Rear-end collisions, commonly referred to as tailgating, accounted for 16.2% of crashes, while side-swipes made up 17.7%. Head-on collisions caused 13%, and angle collisions accounted for 10.5%.
Motorcyclists were the most vulnerable road users, with 1,720 deaths in 2024, marking a 13.2% increase from 2023. Fatalities among motorcycle passengers rose by 10.1%, from 614 deaths in 2023 to 676 in 2024. In contrast, driver fatalities saw a slight decline of 1.7%.
The Traffic and Road Safety spokesperson, SP Micheal Kananura urged road users, particularly the passengers to ensure safety on the roads and warned parents with school going children against transporting the young children on the same Boda Boda.
“Let’s all do what we are supposed to do to ensure that our roads are safe and everyone is safe,” said Kananura.
Immaculate Natukunda, the project manager motor vehicles registration said 6,482 motor vehicles and 32445 have been issued with digital registration plates.
“We have also commenced on post-registration services and targeted those that have lost their digital plates, those that have plates that are damaged, and those who are re-registering their vehicles and issuing them with digital registration plates,” she said.
She also disclosed government Plans all vehicles in the country are issued with digital registration plates within two years.
“We are identifying sites upcountry where the installations are going to be done, and as soon as the exercise is completed, we shall roll out the exercise fully,” Natukunda said.
Gen. Katumba appealed to drivers and motorcyclists, businesses dealing in motorcycle to collaborate and comply with safety guidelines and reduce on crashes on the roads.
