By Ben Musanje
Over 56 percent of fatalities on Ugandan roads in 2025 involved people aged 35 and below, according to Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Lawrence Nuwabiine, Director Traffic and Road Safety who presented the Uganda Police Force Road Traffic Report 2025.
Speaking at the report launch, AIGP Nuwabiine noted that young, energetic, and often inexperienced drivers remain the most at-risk group, highlighting the urgent need for targeted road safety interventions.
“The age group below 35 constitutes 56.2% of the people who die on our roads,” he said. “These are the most industrious and energetic Ugandans, yet they are disproportionately involved in fatal crashes due to risky behaviors.”
The report shows overall fatalities increased by 4.6 percent, rising from 5,144 in 2024 to 5,383 in 2026. However, deaths among the 5-11 and 12-17 age groups declined by 8.1% and 0.9% respectively.
The report revealed that a total of 322,441 traffic-related cases were recorded in 2025, down from 426,432 in 2024, marking a 24.4 percent decrease. However, fatalities rose slightly, with 4,602 fatal crashes recorded, a 3.8 percent increase from 2024.
AIGP Nuwabiine attributed the overall reduction in traffic offenses to intensified road safety education programs, particularly initiatives taken to engage church leaders, village opinion leaders, and school children at the grassroots level.
He highlighted notable accidents in 2025, including the Kiryandongo bus crash, which claimed 44 lives and injured 66, a 19-fatality crash on the Chigorovia-Hoima-Bulisa Road, and a container accident on the Iganga-Tororo Highway that killed 10 people.
Most crashes occurred between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM totaling to 3,484, coinciding with rush hours, while weekend evenings saw higher incidences, particularly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Pedestrian incidents accounted for 20 percent of crashes, with hit-and-run cases contributing to rising “unknown” vehicle statistics.
Motorcycles remain the most dangerous vehicles on Ugandan roads, accounting for 3,224 fatalities. Male drivers accounted for 83 percent of deaths, reflecting risky behaviors during night and weekend driving.
“Careless overtaking, speeding, and reckless driving remain the leading causes of crashes, contributing to over 40 percent of incidents recorded in 2025,” AIGP Nuwabiine said, urging increased use of CCTV and number plate recognition cameras to enhance enforcement.
He concluded with a cautionary note to Ugandan youth: “Males, especially those below 35, need to change road behavior. Otherwise, we will continue losing our most productive citizens.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
