On the night of December 17, prominent businessman Crescent Baguma died in a motor accident on Fort Portal-Mubende highway. According to Rwenzori Region police spokesperson Bashir Bakari Mugah, Baguma and another passenger died on the spot after his vehicle veered off the road. The cause of the accident, according police, was high speed.
This incident echoes the accident that killed Bukomansimbi Member of Parliament Susan Namaganda two weeks ago. The MP died at Nakasero Hospital on December 11 following a road accident on Masaka-Kampala highway. Police blamed the accident on a taxi driver who was reported to be drunk and driving recklessly, thus colliding with the legislator’s car. These are just two examples of the recorded accidents that occur on our roads daily.
Accident trends in the country show an increase during the festive season. With multitudes travelling to the countryside for Christmas and New Year festivities, buses see an opportunity to make more money, thus disregarding set travel charts and making more trips. This leads to speeding – to make more trips; and fatigue – because drivers are overworked.
It has become a yearly ritual for police to issue travel and safety guidelines around this time; for newspapers to write commentaries and editorials about road safety and personal security; for national, religious and local leaders to issue Christmas and New Year messages reaffirming similar messages.
Yet, the country continues to experience the same challenges. Motorists, even after warnings and caution still disregard simple traffic regulations: they speed, drive recklessly, use mobile phones while driving, etc. Following the accident that claimed Namaganda’s life, this newspaper appealed to the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication, Uganda National Roads Authority and the police to quickly find a way to reduce accidents on our roads. We hope the concerned authorities heed these calls.
Obviously, we cannot stop at police statements and media reports after accidents have claimed lives and injured people. Concrete steps must be taken to ensure our roads are safe. Last week, Daily Monitor compiled a list of black spots to watch out for.
The comprehensive report outlined the spots that often claim lives of motorists across the country, especially during the festive season. As we appeal to traffic police to compel motorists to respect speed limits and other road rules, motorists ought to be reminded that they bear the biggest responsibility of ensuring our roads are safe for everyone – drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
The biggest factor contributing to road carnage is human error, including incompetent or reckless drivers. Our roads would be much safer if all motorists followed basic traffic regulations.
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