BY Fortunate Akankunda,
OPINION
Next week on Monday 11th February 2026, schools across Uganda will reopen. Classrooms will be full again. Dormitories will be noisy. Parents will be busy. This is a good moment for our country. Education is the future, and our children are the hope that sustains it.
But as we welcome students back to school, we must also remember one very important thing: their safety comes first.
School reopening is not only about books, uniforms, and fees. It is also about how children move from home to school, how they cross roads, how they travel in buses, Boda Bodas, taxis, and school vans, and how they are protected every day.
We all know what happens on reporting days, roads are crowded, traffic increases, Drivers drive recklessly rushing to drop and pick more passengers. Some forget that children are on the road. This is dangerous.
Road safety remains a major concern in Uganda. And it’s a national crisis. Uganda Police Annual Crime Report (2024), the country recorded 25,107 road traffic accidents a 6.4 % increase compared to previous years (2023). These incidents resulted in 25,808 casualties, up from 24,728 in 2023, despite ongoing government and civil-society efforts to reduce accidents. 4434 of the crashes were fatal.
While presiding over as the Chief Host at the African Road Safety Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo in May last year, Works and Transport minister, Gen. Katumba Wamala revealed that road accidents claim over 5,000 lives annually in Uganda, with far-reaching impacts beyond the human loss; affecting tourism, trade, conferences, overall national development, and branding Uganda as a high-risk destination. These fatalities are burdening largely pedestrians, passengers on Boda Bodas and the riders themselves. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks Uganda as the sixth country globally with the highest number of road traffic deaths, recording 13,012 fatalities annually, representing 6.27% of total deaths in the country. The report further revealed that road accidents are the leading cause of death among young people aged 5 – 29 years. This is predominantly a school-going population in Uganda, a situation that demands immediate policy action, enforcement, and road-safety education.
It also underscores the urgent need for government interventions to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (Target 3.6), which aims to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
Cognizant of the fact that road safety is a shared responsibility, parents, guardians, and the general public, whether or not you have a child on the road must recognize that every child is a nations child, and therefore our child. Keeping them safe is all we ought to do, passionately and deliberately. Let us exercise patience, kindness, and care while using our roads. Roads should be places of safety, not fear or tragedy.
I would like to call upon all drivers, private cars, taxis, boda bodas, and school buses to be extra careful. Slow down near schools. Respect road signs. Give way to pedestrians. A childs life is more important than arriving early.
Again, parents and guardians have the duty to guide children on safe conduct while on the road. Talk to them about road safety, teach them to cross roads carefully, to avoid playing near traffic, and to listen to teachers and school authorities. If possible, escort younger children to school or ensure they are in safe transport.
Additionally, the government and other stakeholders need to enroll Road Safety Education Program in schools and local communities. This will not only reduce risks of accidents but also promote behavioral change one way of ensuring road safety for all.
Safety should be a top priority in schools. School administrations must ensure regular inspection of buses and vans that transport learners to and from school before they hit the road. More clear rules and enforcement mechanisms should be put in place to protect students both within and outside school premises. For instance, driving permits should be verified, and drivers supported with regular refresher training and mental health assessments. This will enforce responsibility, disciplined, and minimize recklessness.
Lastly, I urge traffic police and local leaders to be visible during this time. Your presence on the roads can save lives. Help control traffic, especially near schools, markets, and busy junctions.
As schools reopen, let us not only celebrate learning, but also commit ourselves to safety. When we protect our children today, we protect Uganda’s tomorrow. Let this school term begin with care, responsibility, and love for our children.
Fortunate Akankunda, is a Third Year Student Pursuing Bachelors of Journalism and Mass Communication at Cavendish University Uganda
Email:Fortunateakankunda288@gmail.com
