Kampala, Uganda: Members of Parliament have asked the Government to tighten road safety laws to stop the growing number of deadly road accidents across the country. They said many of these accidents can be avoided if proper action is taken.
This demand came after a terrible accident on the Kampala–Gulu highway on 22 October 2025, which killed 46 people. MPs said this tragedy should be a warning to fix the long-standing problems in how road rules are enforced.
During a Parliament session on 28 October 2025, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa said some drivers of big trucks drive recklessly and put others in danger because they think they own the road.
“I was almost hit by a Sino truck. The driver crashed into the car behind me, then ran away. When we spoke to the truck owners, they were rude. These trucks carrying sand and cows are killing people,” Tayebwa said.
Francis Mwijukye, the MP for Buhweju County, complained that heavy trucks are damaging small bridges and roads in rural areas. He asked the Ministry of Works and Transport to allow local governments to control these trucks better.
“In my area alone, five bridges have been destroyed by overloaded trucks. The ministry should help districts make rules to manage these trucks,” he said.
Ethel Naluyima, the Woman MP for Wakiso district, noted that many dangerous road spots don’t have proper signs. She said this is one reason for many accidents and asked the ministry to mark all known black spots clearly.
Other MPs suggested giving tougher punishments to careless drivers and creating a system to track repeat traffic offenders. They said keeping records of dangerous drivers can help cancel their driving permits before they cause more accidents.
Joy Waako, MP for Elderly Persons, called on the government to make sure all long-distance buses have two drivers. She warned that as the festive season approaches, many drivers rush to make more trips for more pay, which causes speeding and accidents. “For long journeys, every bus should have two drivers to keep passengers safe,” she said.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report (2024), there were 25,107 road accidents across the country — a 6.4% increase compared to 2023.
