Mulago National Referral Hospital has revealed that its Trauma Ward admits an average of 10 patients every day, with road traffic crashes — particularly involving motorcycle (boda boda) riders — accounting for a significant number of cases.
The hospital said the Trauma Ward, located at Upper Mulago, continues to receive patients with severe injuries resulting from road crashes, including head, chest, abdominal and limb injuries.
“Road traffic crashes remain one of the leading causes of trauma-related admissions at Mulago Referral Hospital,” the hospital said.
The facility provides specialised trauma and orthopaedic care, including fracture management, surgery for broken bones, treatment of muscle, ligament and tendon injuries, as well as rehabilitation services to help patients recover and regain normal function.
To support long-term recovery, the unit runs specialist trauma clinics every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, providing follow-up care for patients recovering from traumatic injuries.
The hospital’s statistics highlight the increasing pressure road traffic injuries are placing on Uganda’s healthcare system and the need for stronger road safety interventions, especially among boda boda riders and other road users.
According to the 2025 Annual Crime Report by the Uganda Police Force, Uganda recorded 26,044 road traffic crashes in 2025, up from 25,107 crashes in 2024, representing a 3.7% increase.
The report shows that fatal crashes also rose from 4,434 in 2024 to 4,602 in 2025, while serious and minor crashes increased by 3.3% and 4.5% respectively.
The highest number of crashes were recorded on Fridays with 3,921 cases, followed by Saturdays with 3,913 and Sundays with 3,870. Thursdays recorded the lowest number of crashes at 3,462.
Fatalities were also highest during weekends, with 810 deaths recorded on Sundays and 729 on Saturdays, a trend attributed to increased travel, leisure activities and commercial transport movements.
Health experts and road safety stakeholders have repeatedly warned that the rising number of road crashes is creating a growing burden on emergency services, with many survivors requiring prolonged treatment, surgery and rehabilitation.
Mulago’s Trauma Ward remains one of the country’s key centres for managing severe injuries, as Uganda continues efforts to reduce road crashes and improve emergency response systems.
