Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has announced a series of safety measures aimed at reducing accidents at railway level crossings following Friday’s fatal train collision involving a school bus in Mukono District.
The announcement comes after a bus carrying students of Mwebaze High School, Kakiri, collided with a train at a railway crossing in Mukono while the students were travelling to Jinja for a study tour. The crash claimed the life of a teacher and left several students injured.
In a statement issued after the incident, URC expressed sympathy to those affected, extending sincere concern to all those affected.
The corporation revealed that it is already in the advanced stages of procuring automated safety systems for high-risk railway crossings.
According to URC, “Automated barrier systems will be installed at railway level crossings in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono. The barriers will include Boom Gates, Warning Lights, and Audible Alarms, and will close whenever a train approaches.”
As an immediate measure, the corporation said additional personnel will be deployed at all railway level crossings to improve safety before the automated systems are installed.
URC also said it will work with the Ministry of Works and Transport to construct speed humps on highway approaches to selected railway crossings to slow down vehicles and reduce the risk of collisions.
The latest measures are part of efforts to improve safety at railway crossings, which have witnessed several accidents in recent years.
