Kampala, (UG):- The Uganda Traffic Police Spokesperson, SP Michael Kananura has urged owners of impounded motorcycles to come out and reclaim them to free space at the various police stations across the country.
SP Kananura who was addressing the media on Monday on the state of traffic and road safety said many of these motorcycles have stayed at the police stations for several weeks and months with riders abandoning them for good.
He, thus, appealed to the owners to turn up with relevant documents ascertaining their ownership so as to take the motorcycles.
“There are motorcycles parked at various police stations unclaimed for, these motorcycles have no cases under inquiries and have spent some time at these police stations. We thus appeal to all riders whose motorcycles are at different police stations to come with relevant documents and take their motorcycles,” SP Kananura said.
Similarly, the Traffic Police PRO revealed that 81 people lost their lives in road crashes registered during the week of 7th to 13th July 2024, while 301 sustained injuries during the same period.
“Among the dead were 35 motorcyclists, 28 pedestrians, 13 passengers on motorcycles, 03 pedal cyclists, 01 Driver & 01 other. Crashes on motorcycles, both riders and passengers accounted for 59% of the total deaths followed by pedestrians who contributed to 35%,” SP Kananura said, before attributing the major causes of these road crashes to; careless overtaking (31%) and overspeeding (19%) of the deaths.
Among the notable road crashes; one person died and one other was injured in a fatal crash that occurred Sunday, July 14, at Busowobi along Iganga-Bugiri Highway in Iganga District
“The crash involved motor vehicles UBG 347D Tata Lorry & NO ZG 2941 (Rear number plate). A fuel tanker, travelling from Iganga to Bugiri, lost control and veered into the oncoming lane, colliding with a TATA Lorry carrying cement from Tororo. The impact sparked a fire that engulfed both vehicles, resulting in the death of one person, whose identity has not been confirmed, who was burned beyond recognition,” Kananura remarked.
The driver of the TATA Lorry sustained critical injuries and was rushed to Iganga Hospital. Investigations are underway
Another notable road crash occurred on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Katende along Masaka-Kampala Road in Mpigi district at around 4:00 pm killing one person on the spot.
The crash involved a motor vehicle UAY 400Y Ambulance belonging to Specialist Doctor International, motorcycle UEW 020M Bajaj boxer & UDZ 939B Bajaj Boxer.
“The crash occurred when the said ambulance carrying a body from Jinja to Kyotera while at Katende attempted to overtake a queue of vehicles and collided head-on with two motorcycles travelling in the opposite direction towards Kampala,” he said.
The collision resulted in the instant death of 01 motorcycle rider and injured 02 others a rider and a passenger. He attributed the cause of the crash to the ambulance driver’s careless overtaking manoeuvre.
As far as traffic road usage is concerned, SP Kananura said that operations conducted last week related to driving licenses resulted in the arrest of 331 defaulters.
“Out these 75 were driving without driving licenses, 107 were driving out of class and 149 were driving with expired licenses,” he said, adding that “operations related to boda-bodas led to the arrest of 987 riders on cases of riding without crash helmets and reflective jackets.”
To minimize road carnage and ensure road safety, Kanaunura said the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has carried out a number of sensitization activities across the country targeting all road users who including taxi operators, bus drivers, lorry drivers, riders, pedestrians, school children, market vendors, churches and others.
“This has been done through radio programs, television talk shows and physical engagement aimed at promoting behavioural change,” he said.
A total number of 1,126 engagements were conducted. Out of these 19 were television talk shows, 326 radio talk shows and 1,081 physical engagements across the country.
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