The Traffic Police director, Lawrence Niwabiine has said boda boda riders and pedestrians are the most road users who are at risk in Uganda.
Commenting on the annual police crime report released last week and indicated that 4806 people were killed in crashes, Niwabiine said pedestrians motorcycle riders contributed the highest number of these fatalities.
“The most vulnerable road users on our roads are motorcyclists, pedestrians pedal cyclists. Pedestrians contribute 37% of deaths on Ugandan roads while motorcyclists alone account for 45% of the deaths and when you add pedal cyclists, they contribute to around 85% of deaths on our roads,” Niwabiine said.
He explained that of the pedestrians who died on Ugandan roads in 2023 , 75% of these were knocked while crossing or walking along the road.
The report also indicates that as much as 145 pedestrians were knocked to death while standing along the road.
“This should be picked by policy makers to see how to improve road design to cater for pedestrian walkways and a bit raised so that no vehicle can jump to kill the pedestrians. The trend shows walking, crossing and standing on the road is risky,” Niwabiine said.
The report also shows that persons below the age of 35 account for 60% of deaths on Ugandan roads.
