Africa-Press – Uganda. The Regional Traffic Officer (RTO) for the Albertine region, Joram Tumwebaze, has called on communities to prioritise road safety education among schoolchildren as a long-term solution to Uganda’s growing road crash crisis.
Speaking during the National Safe Mobility Competition for the Albertine region held at Hoima Resort Hotel on Wednesday, Tumwebaze emphasised the importance of instilling responsible road use habits in young people to shape a generation of cautious road users.
“We always get a lot of confusion and traffic mix on roads. If we start with the young ones, we will be training future responsible and careful road users. Whatever you have learned, let it not end with you; carry the message to your parents and everyone else in your communities,” said Tumwebaze.
The Albertine region includes the districts of Hoima, Buliisa, Kikuube, Kakumiro, Kiryandongo, Masindi, and Kagadi. His remarks came just days after a tragic multi-vehicle crash in Kiryandongo District along the Gulu Highway on the night of October 21, 2025, which claimed 46 lives, marking one of Uganda’s deadliest road accidents in recent years.
The call for greater road safety awareness builds on ongoing initiatives such as Via, a global road safety program launched in 2022 by Safe Way Right Way (SWRW) with support from the Total Energies Foundation and the Michelin Foundation.
The program, which targets young learners, has been rolled out in 138 schools across the Albertine region and eight schools in Kampala Central Division. It seeks to ensure safer journeys to and from school, creating a foundation for improved access to quality education.
To date, 269 teachers have been trained as Via educators, reaching over 60,000 children. Additionally, twelve high-risk schools in Buliisa District have been fenced off to separate pupils from nearby vehicle traffic, significantly reducing accident risks.
“Since the Via program was introduced, pupils now walk on the right-hand side of the road when going to and from school because it’s safer to face oncoming traffic. Cases of crashes involving children have reduced. The lessons children learn stay with them and spread to their families and communities. As a result, we haven’t recorded any crashes involving our pupils,” said Alex Onen, Headteacher of Ngwedo Primary School in Buliisa District.
According to Bashir Gwandaye, a sociologist with Safe Way Right Way Uganda, the Via program empowers children to take an active role in road safety awareness.
“The program allows pupils to create posters and present ideas for safer mobility in schools. Winners at the national level go on to represent Uganda in the Via international finals and join a network of young ambassadors for safe mobility,” he said.
These young ambassadors lead awareness campaigns in their schools and communities, embodying the belief that children can be powerful agents of change in promoting safer mobility.
Last year, St. Ludovico’s Kitana Primary School in Kigorobya Town Council, Hoima District, proudly represented Uganda at the African Regional Via Competition.
According to the 2024 Annual Crime Report released by the Uganda Police Force, road crashes continue to rise at an alarming rate.
In 2024, police recorded 25,107 road crashes — a 6.4 percent increase from 2023. There were 25,808 casualties, marking a 4.4 percent increase from the previous year. Most crashes occurred between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., with 894 fatal accidents recorded during that period.
Sundays recorded the highest number of crashes (3,790), followed by Saturdays (3,765) and Mondays (3,686). Pedestrian collisions accounted for 19.5 percent of all crashes, followed by sideswipes (17.7 percent), rear-end collisions (16.2 percent), and head-on collisions (13 percent).
The data underscores the urgent need for enhanced road safety interventions targeting both motorists and pedestrians, especially young people.
Tumwebaze reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility and that sustained public education—starting with children—is key to reversing the current trend.
“If we invest in teaching children today, we are investing in a safer Uganda tomorrow. Communities, schools, and parents must all play their part,” he said.
The National Safe Mobility Competition continues to serve as a platform for promoting safe road use, encouraging innovation, and recognising schools and young ambassadors who are making meaningful contributions toward safer roads in Uganda.
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